Richard Howard King II, Federal Gun Crime, West Virginia 2021

A Charleston man was sentenced to prison for a federal gun crime after he fired a .45 caliber round from a gun during an argument at a bar in Cross Lanes on March 13, 2021.

Richard Howard King II, 26, admitted to possessing the round of .45 caliber Tula ammunition that was fired from the gun, despite being prohibited from possessing it due to a 2016 federal conviction. King was still on supervised release for the prior felony conviction at the time.

King was involved in an argument with another individual at a bar in Cross Lanes on March 13, 2021, and during the altercation, he retrieved a gun from his car and fired a .45 caliber round from it.

As a result of his actions, King was sentenced to three years and two months in prison. United States Attorney Will Thompson praised the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:21-cr-00008 and 2:15-cr-000218.

The incident highlights the seriousness of possessing firearms while prohibited. King’s actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law and put the lives of others at risk.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who engage in such reckless behavior.

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