BRIDGEPORT, CT – Zan Hairston, Jr., 26, of Bridgeport, admitted in federal court today to possessing firearms despite a lengthy rap sheet that already includes felony convictions. The guilty plea comes after a January 2023 incident where police say Hairston terrorized a former girlfriend and then attempted to evade officers while carrying loaded weapons.
According to court documents, Bridgeport Police responded to a report that Hairston had broken into his ex-girlfriend’s home, rifled through her belongings, and threatened her during a FaceTime call, displaying what appeared to be a handgun. When officers spotted Hairston on Union Avenue, he bolted. A short foot chase ended with Hairston in custody and two firearms discarded nearby: a Taurus TX .22 with a laser and a 20-round extended magazine, and a Glock 26 Gen4 loaded with a single round, along with an additional 13-round Glock magazine.
Hairston’s criminal history is extensive. He’s previously been convicted in Connecticut of conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery with a firearm, second-degree burglary, criminal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. Federal law prohibits anyone with a felony conviction from possessing a firearm that has crossed state lines – a key element in this case.
The investigation, a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department, quickly established Hairston’s prohibited status. He was arrested on February 22, 2023, and has remained detained ever since. The quick action by both agencies kept a dangerous, convicted felon off the streets.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut announced the guilty plea, highlighting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rahul Kale and Lauren Clark are prosecuting the case, emphasizing a strategy of targeting the most dangerous offenders and pairing enforcement with community-based prevention and reentry programs.
Zan Hairston, Jr. now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison when Judge Sarala V. Nagala hands down the sentence on June 7th. This case serves as a stark reminder that federal authorities are actively pursuing and prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms, particularly those with prior criminal records, in an effort to keep Connecticut communities safe.
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