A District man has been hit with federal charges for illegal firearm possession. Antowan Tyrone Hagans, 30, of Washington, D.C., stands accused as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative, a joint effort explicitly designed to curb violent crimes in the nation's capital by stringently enforcing gun laws and pushing for stiffer penalties. The announcement of the indictment was made by no less than the U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., along with ATF's Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood and MPD's Chief Pamela Smith, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
On March 27, Hagans came to the attention of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers in a designated high-crime area. As police attempted to engage, Hagans quickly tried to flee into an apartment building. It was during a moment of seeming desperation that Hagans stumbled within a stairwell, at which point a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol was dislodged to grace the floor ominously. In its silent falling, this loaded weapon spoke volumes to the officers in hot pursuit. With a prior rap sheet that includes two felony convictions—one for armed robbery and another for firearm possession—it was evident Hagans was not legally entitled to carry the firearm.
Swept up at the scene, Hagans now faces serious charges for his unlawful possession of the gun. The "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that individuals like Hagans, with a known history of violent offenses, realize the full gravity of the justice system. This case unfolds under the scrutiny of the ATF Washington Field Division, and the delicate dance of justice is choreographed by none other than Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin.
