Norris Wade Culver, Jr., Shooting at Graduation Party, Iowa 2019

A Dubuque man who fired multiple rounds from a handgun at a group of people celebrating a graduation has been sentenced to over eleven years in federal prison.

Norris Wade Culver, Jr., age 34, was sentenced to 110 months' imprisonment for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.

Culver was convicted of violating his supervised release conditions from a federal case out of Texas and was sentenced to an additional 24 months' imprisonment, which will be served consecutively to the initial sentence.

The shooting occurred on May 17, 2019, in Dubuque, Iowa, when Culver fired multiple rounds from a .45 caliber handgun at a duplex across the street where a graduation party was being held. Several people, including at least three minor children, were present at the party, but no one was hit by the bullets.

Culver has a long history of crimes, dating back to 2004 when he was convicted of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon at the age of 18. He has also been convicted of aggravated assault, domestic abuse assault, operating while intoxicated, and attempted burglary.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime, and Project Guardian, a Department of Justice initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Norris Wade Culver, Jr. is currently being held in the United States Marshal's custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The exact criminal charges against Norris Wade Culver, Jr. are being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and violating his supervised release conditions. He was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndia/pr/shooting-multiple-rounds-graduation-house-party-leads-over-eleven-years-federal-prison