Terrence Gay, Attempted Murder, Ohio 2024

DAYTON, Ohio – A shocking incident unfolded on March 23 when Terrence Gay, 41, fired shots at fugitive apprehension officers who arrived at his Dayton home to take him into custody. The defendant had been a fugitive since September 2021, when he failed to appear to begin serving a federal prison sentence for fentanyl crimes in Missouri.

According to court documents, the Southern District of Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) developed new information regarding Gay’s whereabouts and began surveillance on his residence. On March 23, law enforcement officials surrounded Gay’s home, announcing their presence and purpose.

Gay allegedly failed to comply with agents to come out of his home and eventually fired approximately 12 rounds at officers, striking an unmarked Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office vehicle with deputies nearby. Dayton Police SWAT and Montgomery County SWAT teams arrived to provide assistance.

During this time, United States Marshals received a phone call from Gay’s attorney, and a three-way call was made to arrange Gay’s peaceful surrender. Gay is charged in a six-count indictment with assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon, attempted murder of a federal officer, two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon, and illegally possessing a firearm as a fugitive.

Besides his prior convictions in Missouri, Gay has prior convictions in Montgomery County for aggravated robbery, theft, and kidnapping. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; United States Marshal Michael D. Black; Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck; and Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal announced the charges.

Assistant United States Attorney Erica D. Lunderman is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Terrence Gay, 41, had been a fugitive since September 2021, when he failed to appear to begin serving a federal prison sentence for fentanyl crimes. He is currently facing a six-count indictment with serious charges including attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

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