GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Terrence Terrial Izear Turner, 29, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced to 165 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou also imposed a period of 3 years of federal supervised release.
“Mr. Turner’s careless acts of violence put innocent lives at risk and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “My office is committed to identifying and federally prosecuting the individuals driving gun violence in our communities. There is no acceptable level of violent crime. In this case and others, we are working with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that dangerous members of the community are brought to justice.”
Photograph of Mr. Turner Posing with a Firearm and an Extended Magazine
Investigators identified Mr. Turner as a suspect in a shootout on July 9, 2023, which occurred in a parking lot at the River Terrace Apartments in Benton Harbor. During the shootout, which involved multiple shooters, an apartment across the parking lot was struck five times by gunfire. One bullet entered a bedroom where an occupant was, and there was also a young child in the apartment. Turner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm following an investigation that culminated in a search warrant at a residence where Turner was staying with a gun. As a convicted felon, Turner was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms. Turner previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on January 10, 2024.
Shamonte Buchanan, another shooter at the River Terrace Apartments, was previously sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Jarbou to 71 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“Illegal possession of firearms poses a severe threat to the well-being of our citizens. Gun violence continues to plague our society and impact our way of life. More and more felons are possessing illegal firearms, and this is a very dangerous reality for our community,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan. “The sentencing of Mr. Turner demonstrates the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners and our firm commitment to removing violent offenders from our communities.”
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement work closely together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities in order to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Individuals with information or concerns about violent crime or firearms offenses should contact local law enforcement. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit: https://www.justice.gov/psn.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Michigan State Police (MSP), Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Benton Township Police Department, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Department
of Justice
