Benton Harbor Man Sentenced to 165 Months for Gun Possession After Deadly Shootout

A 29-year-old man from Benton Harbor, Michigan, has been sentenced to 165 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm after a deadly shootout in an apartment complex parking lot.

Terrence Terrial Izear Turner, 29, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou for his role in the July 9, 2023, shootout at the River Terrace Apartments. Turner was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 165 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

The shootout involved multiple shooters, and an apartment across the parking lot was struck five times by gunfire. A bullet entered a bedroom where an occupant was, and there was also a young child in the apartment. Turner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after an investigation that culminated in a search warrant at a residence where Turner was staying with a gun.

As a convicted felon, Turner was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms. Turner previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on January 10, 2024. Shamonte Buchanan, another shooter at the River Terrace Apartments, was previously sentenced to 71 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

“Illegal possession of firearms poses a severe threat to the well-being of our citizens,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan. “Gun violence continues to plague our society and impact our way of life. More and more felons are possessing illegal firearms, and this is a very dangerous reality for our community.”

The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement work closely together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities.

“This case demonstrates the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners and our firm commitment to removing violent offenders from our communities,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson. “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.”