Ronnie Earl Murdock Jr, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Ohio 2024

Columbus, Ohio - A convicted felon has been charged with possessing a loaded firearm at a protest in Columbus, Ohio. Ronnie Earl Murdock Jr, 31, of Columbus, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, an officer in the Columbus Police Emergency Operations Center was monitoring a demonstration near Broad and Front streets on June 24. The officer recognized Murdock and saw him holding a rifle. Murdock is a convicted felon and is not allowed to own, possess, or control a firearm.

Columbus SWAT officers responded to the scene and arrested Murdock. During the arrest, officers recovered a semiautomatic .223-caliber rifle with 31 live rounds of ammunition in the magazine. Both crimes are felonies, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Murdock pleaded guilty in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in October 2007 to attempted burglary and in October 2016 to robbery. A judge will schedule a hearing for Murdock in federal court.

“Peaceful protests can turn into tragedies if illegal possession of firearms becomes part of the mix,” said David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin M. Kelley is representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

This case highlights the importance of public safety and the need for individuals to follow the law, especially when it comes to firearms. The Columbus Police Department and the ATF are committed to keeping the community safe and preventing tragedies.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/convicted-felon-charged-possessing-loaded-firearm-columbus-protest