Richmond, VA – Devon Martin, 30, of Richmond, pleaded guilty today to possessing a firearm while near the scene of an active shooting, federal prosecutors announced. The incident occurred on March 29, 2023, drawing a swift response from Richmond Police.
According to court documents, officers raced to the intersection of Williamsburg Road and Government Road after reports of gunfire. Arriving at the Krispie’s Chicken restaurant parking lot – identified as the focal point of the shooting – officers spotted Martin sporting a hoodie with a distinct, bulky object in the right pocket. As police approached, Martin attempted to enter the passenger side of a vehicle.
Officers ordered Martin out of the car and conducted a search, discovering a Taurus 9mm firearm concealed in his hoodie pocket. The discovery is particularly damning given Martin’s prior criminal record. He was previously convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2019 on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, making firearm possession illegal for him.
The case was built through the cooperative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division and the Richmond Police Department. ATF Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai and Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards joined U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber in announcing the guilty plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony is prosecuting the case.
Martin is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years behind bars. While the maximum is steep, federal sentencing guidelines and other factors will be considered by the judge before a final determination is made. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a violent crime reduction initiative.
PSN aims to bolster trust between law enforcement and communities, support local violence prevention organizations, and focus enforcement efforts on the most pressing threats. The Department of Justice relaunched the program in 2021, emphasizing community engagement and strategic enforcement. Court documents related to this case can be found on the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia website or through PACER, under Case No. 3:23-cr-96.
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- Charles General, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Washington DC, 2023 · West Virginia
- Byron Stevens, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Pittsburgh PA, 2023 · Virginia
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