GREENBELT, MD – Jeremiah Peter Watson, 24, of Hanover, Maryland, will spend the next decade in federal prison for a brazen attack on U.S. Secret Service security guards. Watson was sentenced Tuesday, July 5, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis to 10 years, followed by 5 years of supervised release. He pled guilty to assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon and using a firearm in relation to a violent crime.
The incident unfolded February 25, 2021, when Watson deliberately blocked the entrance to a Secret Service facility with his vehicle. When confronted by security, he became verbally aggressive and refused to move. The situation escalated quickly when Watson lunged at one officer and aggressively approached another, putting his face inches from theirs. Believing Watson was reaching for a weapon, a security guard drew his firearm and pepper spray was deployed.
Undeterred, Watson retreated to his vehicle only to return moments later, firing at least four shots towards the security personnel as they re-entered the facility. Three 9mm shell casings were recovered at the scene, along with a bullet fragment lodged in a wall. Investigators traced the vehicle to Watson’s Hanover residence, where it was located later that night.
A subsequent search of Watson’s home uncovered a chilling arsenal: a privately made 9mm handgun – a so-called “ghost gun” lacking a serial number – along with 9mm ammunition and spent cartridge cases. Forensic analysis confirmed the ghost gun fired the rounds recovered from the scene and the bullet fragment found embedded in the wall. All four victims – three security guards and a Secret Service agent – were actively performing their duties at the time of the shooting.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, along with Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the ATF Baltimore Field Division, and Acting Chief of Police Christopher Stock of the U.S. Park Police, announced the sentencing. The ATF and Park Police spearheaded the investigation, receiving assistance from the FBI and the Secret Service itself.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright prosecuted the case, securing the 10-year sentence for Watson. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by federal law enforcement and the growing threat posed by untraceable “ghost guns” circulating on the streets. The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized its commitment to pursuing those who target federal officers and endanger public safety.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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