Benton Harbor Man Sentenced 165 Months for Illegal Gun Possession After Shootout

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — A 29-year-old man from Benton Harbor has been sentenced to 165 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm after a shootout at an apartment complex.

Terrence Terrial Izear Turner, 29, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou to 165 months in prison, followed by 3 years of federal supervised release. Turner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a crime that poses a severe threat to the well-being of citizens and plagues society, according to the FBI.

Turner’s careless acts of violence put innocent lives at risk during the shootout on July 9, 2023, at the River Terrace Apartments in Benton Harbor. The shootout involved multiple shooters, and an apartment across the parking lot was struck five times by gunfire. A young child was present in the apartment, and a bullet entered a bedroom where an occupant was.

“Mr. Turner’s careless acts of violence put innocent lives at risk, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is committed to identifying and federally prosecuting the individuals driving gun violence in our communities. There is no acceptable level of violent crime.”

Turner was previously sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Shamonte Buchanan, another shooter at the River Terrace Apartments, was previously sentenced to 71 months in prison for the same crime. This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime.

The FBI, Michigan State Police, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Benton Township Police Department, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted the case.

According to the FBI, illegal possession of firearms poses a severe threat to the well-being of citizens, and gun violence continues to plague society and impact our way of life. The sentencing of Turner demonstrates the diligent efforts of law enforcement partners and their firm commitment to removing violent offenders from communities.