Temple Hills Man Tossed Gun in Escape from Police

WASINGTON – A Maryland man was sentenced to 42 months in prison for possessing a loaded firearm in Southeast Washington after he was observed fleeing from police officers on July 4, 2017, Grimy Times reports.

Vincenzo Lomax, 23, of Temple Hills, Maryland, was stopped by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers in the 3200 block of Buena Vista Terrace SE. Approximately 10 seconds after the officers stopped their car, Lomax took off in a full sprint and tossed his backpack, which contained a loaded firearm, to the ground.

Lomax, who was on supervision with the U.S. Parole Commission at the time of his arrest, was also wanted for a shooting that took place in broad daylight aboard a Metrobus in Southeast Washington on March 20, 2015. Lomax had previously pled guilty to two felony offenses related to the shooting and was sentenced to two years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Chief of the MPD Peter Newsham commended the work of the MPD officers who investigated the case, saying ‘The bravery and professionalism shown by these officers helped to prevent further harm from coming to the community.’

Lomax will serve 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In addition to the sentence he faces for possessing a firearm on July 4, 2017, Lomax also faces formal revocation of his supervised release and additional incarceration related to the 2015 shooting.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the MPD worked together to investigate the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Macchiaroli and Kondi Kleinman, and Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle were also involved in the case.

Lomax’s sentence comes as a warning to those who disregard the law and put the community at risk. ‘We will continue to work tirelessly to keep our community safe and to hold those accountable who pose a threat to public safety.’