TAMPA, FL – A chaotic scene at the Pin Chasers Bowling Arcade last March landed 22-year-old Cedric Durham, Jr. of Tampa a four-year federal prison sentence. Durham was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber after pleading guilty in November to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon – the fallout from a brazen shootout inside the popular entertainment venue.
The March 6, 2022, shooting erupted when Durham became the target of gunfire. Rather than flee, Durham allegedly returned fire, unleashing a volley of 30 rounds before patrons scattered in panic. Tampa Police and ATF agents arrived to find a scene of rapidly dispersing individuals, all desperate to escape the escalating violence.
Law enforcement quickly zeroed in on Durham, observing him leaving the arcade in a vehicle. A traffic stop yielded the weapon used in the exchange – a firearm that forensic analysis confirmed was linked to the ballistic evidence recovered at the scene. Durham’s prior felony conviction, however, made simple possession of the firearm the primary federal charge.
Federal law strictly prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms or ammunition. Durham’s history rendered him ineligible, turning the arcade shootout into a federal case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida, led by U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg, successfully prosecuted the case, securing the four-year sentence.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Tampa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman handled the prosecution. Authorities emphasized the case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement and community engagement.
PSN, recently bolstered by a Department of Justice strategy launched in May 2021, focuses on building trust within communities, supporting preventative violence programs, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and rigorously measuring results. While Durham is headed to prison, officials hope the conviction sends a clear message: illegally possessing a firearm carries severe consequences, especially for those already barred from doing so.
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