Source: Office of United States Attorneys
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Fayetteville man was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon after his involvement in a drive-by shooting. On March 13, 2024, Daron Owens, 22, pled guilty to the charge.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on November 24, 2021, Daron 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, however, was quickly apprehended by the officers. Officers executed a search warrant at the residence and recovered two firearms that matched the shell casings recovered from the drive-by shooting from Owens’ bedroom. The officers also recovered and searched Owens’ phone. In a conversation with a subject, the subject sent Owens pictures of the victim’s vehicle and its location on Bragg Boulevard prior to the shooting. Owens responded “done” and a “checkmark emoji” indicating that the shooting was planned and completed by Owens. Additionally, there were pictures on Owens’ phone of 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.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after 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 and former Assistant United States Attorney Chad Rhoades and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren E. Kelly prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information 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.