BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Larry Leon Bryant, a 34-year-old Tuscaloosa resident with a rap sheet as long as his arm, will spend the next 262 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm during a brazen shooting on Skyland Boulevard in 2018. The sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler, sends a clear message: arming yourself with a firearm when you’re already a convicted felon carries severe consequences.
Bryant, a six-time convicted felon, was found guilty after a two-day jury trial in October 2019 of being a felon in possession of a firearm under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The charges stemmed from a December 13, 2018 incident where Bryant and his brother tracked down a stolen SUV on East Skyland Boulevard. What followed was a violent confrontation caught on traffic camera.
The footage tells a grim story. Bryant’s SUV was lifted from his driveway earlier that day. When located, Bryant stopped his vehicle behind the stolen SUV, while his brother pulled in front. A single shot rang out, shattering the SUV’s windshield. Bryant’s brother then approached the driver’s side, and a volley of gunfire erupted, ripping through the driver’s side and even the rear tailgate doors. The driver, a juvenile, was struck in the head but miraculously survived.
“Bryant’s lengthy sentence was driven by his extensive criminal history that included multiple drug distribution convictions,” stated U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “We continue to focus our prosecutions on felons who arm themselves, especially those who use firearms to continue their criminal activity.” The message is blunt: repeat offenders will face the full weight of the law.
Investigators recovered two pistols at the scene, and forensic analysis confirmed multiple firearms were used in the attack. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, working alongside the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit. “Removing the criminal element that uses a firearm to facilitate violent crimes is a priority of ATF,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Toby Taylor. “This focused investigation of an individual with an extensive criminal history will have a lasting impact within this community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alan Baty and Brittney Bucak successfully prosecuted the case, securing a conviction and a lengthy prison sentence for Bryant. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the gun violence plaguing our streets and the dedication of law enforcement to bringing perpetrators to justice. Bryant’s 262-month sentence isn’t just about one shooting; it’s about dismantling a pattern of criminal behavior and protecting the citizens of Tuscaloosa.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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