Range USA Store Linked to Chicago Officer’s Death Faces Scrutiny Amid Policy Reversal
As the Trump administration dismantles Biden-era penalties for gun retailers, a Range USA location in Merrillville remains open despite prior recommendations for license revocation following violations linked to illegal sales.
A Range USA store in Merrillville, Indiana, has been cited for serious compliance failures in the years leading up to the death of Chicago police officer John Bartholomew. Federal inspection records obtained by ProPublica indicate the Merrillville location faced a recommendation for license revocation following a 2022 inspection that found a missing background check for one sale. Inspectors noted the company had made no significant improvement toward rectifying over a half dozen previous violations.
The firearm used to kill Officer Bartholomew on April 25 was a 10-millimetre Glock 29 purchased in 2024 through an illegal straw sale at the Merrillville store. Federal investigators allege that Olivia Burgos bought the weapon two years prior, falsely claiming it was for herself while concealing her boyfriend’s status as a convicted felon and her own fentanyl addiction. Burgos has been charged with making false statements. The suspect in Bartholomew’s killing, Alphanso Talley, has been charged with murder but has not yet entered a plea.
Range USA has faced similar regulatory challenges at other locations. Between 2020 and 2024, federal authorities recommended revoking the licenses of three other Range USA stores, including two in Ohio. In Dayton, an employee sold a firearm to a person who failed a background check, while in Lewis Center, a clerk falsified records after accepting an expired permit. Despite these findings, all affected stores remain open, with the company often attributing violations to employee mistakes or antiquated filing systems.
This incident coincides with a shift in federal enforcement strategy. The Trump administration has weakened Biden-era penalties for gun retailers, including the discontinuation of the ATF’s “Demand Letter 2” programme. This programme previously subjected stores with high numbers of recovered crime guns to enhanced scrutiny. ATF Director Robert Cekada stated the agency will streamline paperwork and apply more lenient consequences for good-faith mistakes, arguing the changes will not impact public safety.
Industry data shows Range USA continues to expand despite a cooling market. Sales increased by just over 5% in 2025, and the company plans to open three new locations by 2027. The retailer has also been involved in separate legal disputes, including a negligence lawsuit filed by Brady United regarding a 2023 shooting, which the company has moved to dismiss citing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.
