Project Ceasefire
KC Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Assault Rifle
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing a firearm.
Larry Davis, 21, of Kansas City, was charged in a federal criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Today’s complaint alleges that Davis, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a Romarm 7.62 x 39mm rifle on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Kansas City police officers were responding to reports of a shooting at the intersection of 61st and College at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012. The victim, located in the driver’s seat of a Hyundai, was pronounced dead with an apparent gunshot wound to his head.
A police officer, driving through the intersection of 59th Street and Highway 71, saw a vehicle that matched the description given of a vehicle at the scene of the shooting. He turned his patrol car around to check on it and activated his emergency lights and sirens, the affidavit says, but the vehicle refused to stop.
According to the affidavit, the vehicle, which was driven by Davis, ran numerous stop signs, red lights, and almost struck several vehicles (including a school bus) while driving at a high rate of speed and into oncoming traffic at certain points. Davis eventually stopped at an apartment complex parking lot at the intersection of 80th Street and Campbell and was arrested. Davis was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
At the time of Davis's arrest, the officer saw the assault-style rifle on the passenger side floorboard of the vehicle.
Phillips cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Holzschuh. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/mow/index.html
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