Thomas Ray III, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Violating Supervised Release Terms, West Virginia 2023

HUNTINGTON, WV – Thomas Ray III, 54, of Huntington, will spend the next twelve years in a federal penitentiary after a jury convicted him of being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating the terms of his supervised release. The sentence, handed down Monday, stems from a chaotic October 2020 incident where Ray engaged in a shootout with Huntington Police officers following a domestic disturbance.

The trouble began on Artisan Avenue, where Ray reportedly assaulted two women, brandished a handgun, and even pointed it at a third woman’s forehead before firing two rounds into the air. Responding officers quickly located Ray in a nearby alley. Instead of surrendering, Ray immediately opened fire on the officers, continuing to discharge his weapon as he fled the scene. Police returned fire, wounding Ray in the leg.

Even after being shot and falling to the ground, Ray refused to comply, clinging to his loaded Smith & Wesson Model M&P Shield .40-caliber pistol. Officers ultimately recovered the weapon after Ray tossed it aside. A search of his person also revealed a Harrington and Richardson revolver tucked into his pants pocket, along with .40-caliber ammunition. The entire incident was a brazen display of violence, putting both officers and civilians at risk.

This wasn’t Ray’s first run-in with the law. He was already prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions in Illinois and West Virginia. In 2012, he was convicted of forcible detention/armed and giving a false bomb/gas alarm in Will County, Illinois. Then, in 2013, he was convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon right here in the Southern District of West Virginia. He was on supervised release for that 2013 conviction at the time of the October 2020 shooting, adding two years to his current sentence.

“Mr. Ray has a significant criminal history and his actions in this case threatened law enforcement officers and other individuals with a substantial risk of serious harm,” stated U.S. Attorney Will Thompson. The judge, Robert C. Chambers, agreed, imposing the full 12-year sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor successfully prosecuted the case.

The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The ATF and Huntington Police Department were key players in the investigation, bringing Ray to justice. Court documents related to the case, number 3:21-cr-57, are available on PACER. This conviction sends a clear message: those who choose violence and repeatedly break the law will face the full force of federal prosecution.

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