GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Darnell Bishop, 33, of Benton Harbor, is staring down the barrel of a potential life sentence after admitting his role in a brazen handgun theft from a Dunham’s Sports store and the subsequent kidnapping of the store’s manager. Bishop pled guilty today to kidnapping and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten.
The scheme unfolded with chilling efficiency. Bishop, along with his codefendant Dontrell Nance, snatched the Dunham’s manager from outside his home, armed with a pistol. They forced the manager to reveal the alarm code to the store, allowing Bishop to pilfer a staggering 123 pistols. These weren’t destined for responsible ownership; authorities believe they were intended to flood the streets of Benton Harbor and beyond. Thankfully, law enforcement recovered all of the stolen firearms.
“My office is laser focused on those few individuals driving gun violence in our communities, including active shooters and gun traffickers,” Totten stated. “Darnell Bishop’s brazen crimes, if successful, would have flooded the streets of Benton Harbor and beyond with illegal firearms. I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners for their swift investigative work that put a stop to this criminal scheme.”
This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment act. Bishop admitted to meticulously planning the theft with Nance. After securing the alarm code, Bishop entered the store and loaded the stolen handguns into two large coolers, making off with a cache of weapons that could have fueled further violence. Nance previously pled guilty to the same charges and is scheduled for sentencing on July 22, 2024.
Federal agents are sending a clear message. “Today’s plea is the best-case scenario for our industry partners and their innocent employees,” said Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir of the ATF. “Armed robberies of FFLs are one of ATF’s top priorities. The message continues to be clear: There is no place in our community for illegal firearms traffickers and those who choose to target and victimize business owners and employees who are just trying to provide for their families.”
The investigation, a joint effort by the Benton Charter Township Police Department, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, ATF, and FBI, underscores the coordinated response needed to combat such criminal enterprises. “Today’s guilty plea confirms that justice has been served, and Mr. Bishop will be held accountable for the heinous crimes committed against the victim and the victim’s place of work,” stated Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. Bishop now awaits sentencing, facing the very real possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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