Kalamazoo Felon Gets 97 Months for Liquor Store Gunfight

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced today that Julius Robinson, Jr., 27, of Kalamazoo, was sentenced to 97 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence stems from a shooting incident at the Bronco Liquor Mart in Kalamazoo, where Robinson fired four shots at a customer in the parking lot.

In sentencing Robinson, U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney noted, “It is a miracle no one was hurt…Mr. Robinson represents a very, very significant risk to the law-abiding public and the community needs to be protected for a long time.”

Robinson, who was buying drinks from the liquor store, got into an argument with another customer who was annoyed at the length of time Robinson was taking to complete his transaction at the check-out counter. Robinson then followed the other customer out of the store into the parking lot and fired four shots at him, missing his target.

Members of the FBI’s Western Michigan Violent Crime Task Force identified Robinson through diligent forensic analysis of the evidence at the scene and review of the security footage at the store. Their investigation led to a search of Robinson’s home where they recovered the gun, still loaded, in Robinson’s bedroom.

While in jail for the shooting and possessing the firearm, Robinson phoned his girlfriend, who was present at the scene of the crime and drove the car as Robinson fled the liquor store. Robinson repeatedly directed his girlfriend to lie so he would escape justice for his crime. The court increased Robinson’s sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm on two grounds: his assault with intent to commit murder and his attempt to obstruct justice by instructing his girlfriend to lie on his behalf.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan is laser-focused on using its resources to incapacitate active shooters like Robinson, who represents a significant risk to the law-abiding public. “Julius Robinson is a menace to his community, and Kalamazoo is a safer place because of today’s lengthy sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “I’m thankful no one was harmed, and grateful to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and the FBI who tracked Robinson down and brought him to justice.”