Des Moines Man Sentenced to 120 Months Imprisonment on Firearm Charges
Des Moines, IA - On January 4, 2008, Bobby Litrell Jr., age 30, of Des Moines, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, the statutory maximum sentence a person can receive for this crime, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker. United States District Judge James E. Gritzner also ordered Littrell to serve three years on supervised release following imprisonment and to pay a $100 assessment to the Crime Victim Fund.
On August 2, 2006, the West Des Moines Police Department responded to an assault that occurred at 425 3rd Street, West Des Moines. The victim of the assault explained to officers at the scene that she had been assaulted by Bobby Littrell Jr., a person that rented an apartment from her at the 425 3rd St. address. The victim stated that Littrell was behind on his rent and she had come to collect the money from him when Littrell started getting obscene and throwing things. The victim explained that Littrell retrieved a computer case and pulled a handgun from it and then pointed the gun at her, threatened to kill her and then pointed the gun at the ceiling and fired one round into the ceiling. Littrell told the victim that if she called the police that he would kill her.
After Littrell fired the round into the ceiling, his girlfriend came into the room and told the victim that if she did not give her car keys to Littrell that he would kill her. The victim explained that Littrell and the girlfriend quickly packed some of their things and left in the victim’s car.
Officers at the scene observed where the bullet struck the ceiling and followed the trajectory of the bullet up into the attic where it was determined that the bullet exited the residence through the roof. No spent shell casing was found at the scene and it was believed that Littrell picked up the casing at the time of the shooting.
No firearm was recovered in the case due to the fact the Littrell took the firearm with him. when he left. No firearm has been recovered since the time of the incident.
This case was tried in Federal District Court before the Honorable James E. Gritzner and Bobby Littrell Jr. was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.