Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General | https://www.justice.gov/
A Fayetteville man has been sentenced to the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon following his involvement in a drive-by shooting. On March 13, 2024, Daron Owens, 22, pled guilty to the charge.
According to court documents and information presented in court, on November 24, 2021, Owens conducted a drive-by shooting into a vehicle on Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville. Evidence revealed seven bullet holes in the passenger side of the vehicle, and the victim sustained three gunshot wounds.
On December 7, 2021, officers executed an arrest warrant at Owens’ residence. Owens attempted to flee through the back door but was quickly apprehended by officers. A search warrant executed at the residence led to the recovery of two firearms that matched shell casings from the drive-by shooting found in Owens’ bedroom. Officers also recovered and searched Owens’ phone. In a conversation with another individual, that person sent Owens pictures of the victim’s vehicle and its location on Bragg Boulevard prior to the shooting. Owens responded “done” and used a “checkmark emoji,” indicating that he had planned and completed the shooting. Additionally, there were pictures on Owens’ phone showing him possessing firearms.
Owens has previous convictions for larceny, involuntary manslaughter, eluding arrest with a motor vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, and multiple counts of breaking or entering a motor vehicle.
The conviction is part of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative—a collaborative effort involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies working with communities to identify and address significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP focuses on strategic enforcement and interagency coordination through intelligence-led policing.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement following sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Fayetteville Police Department investigated the case while former Assistant United States Attorney Chad Rhoades and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren E. Kelly prosecuted it.
Related court documents can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-00229-M.
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