GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The U.S. Attorney's Office in Grand Rapids says a 19-year-old Grand Rapids man will serve a prison sentence of more than four years (50 months) for being a felon in possession of firearms.
Prosecutors say that was after police arrested Shyon Malik Armstrong with an AR-style gun during a graduation ceremony at Calvary Church.
The police had learned earlier in the day that two street gangs were fighting and threatening acts of violence at the graduation. Prosecutors say Armstrong tried to flee from police, but they caught up to him and found two loaded firearms in his backpack. One of the guns was an AR-style pistol with an extended magazine containing 35 rounds of ammunition.
The Grand Rapids Police Department and the A-T-F investigated the case.
Here are more details from a U.S. Attorney's Office of Western Michigan news release:
“At one of life’s most celebratory moments – a high school graduation – Mr. Armstrong created the risk of horrendous harm for these graduates, their families, and school officials,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “I’m so grateful to the Grand Rapids Police Department officers who acted swiftly to protect the community. Every person – no matter who they are or where they live – has a right to live free from the fear of gun violence.”
On May 30, 2024, Grands Rapids Police Department responded to information that violence might break out at a graduation ceremony at Calvary Church. The police had learned earlier in the day that two street gangs were fighting and threatening acts of violence at the graduation ceremony. Mr. Armstrong attempted to flee police, but when they detained him, they found two loaded firearms in his backpack. One of the guns was an AR-style pistol with an extended magazine containing 35 rounds of ammunition.
The Grand Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/psn.
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