FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
DECEMBER 14, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALTIMORE FELON FACES FEDERAL CHARGES FOR ILLEGALLY POSSESSING AND DISCHARGING A GUN IN A CRIME OF VIOLENCE
Arrested After a High Speed Chase on I-83
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal criminal complaint was filed today charging Terrence Boone, age 24, of Baltimore, for use and discharge of a firearm in a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy.
According to the complaint affidavit, between October 5 and October 26, 2007, Boone robbed seven businesses at gunpoint, including four convenience stores and two gas stations in Howard and Baltimore Counties, and an auto parts store in Baltimore City. The complaint alleges that in each robbery, Boone was armed and in two instances he fired his gun during the robbery.
On October 30, 2007, Baltimore Police Department officers were in an unmarked police vehicle and observed the front passenger of the Lexus that was stopped next to them, later identified as Terrence Boone, reach beneath his seat and pull out a gun. The officers began to follow the Lexus and attempted to stop the vehicle, but as the officers got out of their car the driver of the Lexus put the Lexus sped away. The officers began pursuing the Lexus, calling for backup units and for a Baltimore Police Department helicopter to assist in pursuit.
The pursuit continued onto the northbound lanes of Interstate 83 until the Lexus made a U-turn and began driving southbound in the northbound lane. The Lexus continued southbound in the northbound lanes, encountering several marked patrol vehicles that had been directed to block off I-83 in order to protect northbound traffic. As the Lexus got closer to the marked units, the driver made another U-turn and stopped the Lexus. Boone got out and began to run, but his escape was blocked by a large drop-off on the side of the interstate. An officer approached Boone and saw him reach into his waistband and remove a black handgun, which he then tossed over the side of the interstate. Boone was placed under arrest, and the handgun – a loaded .380 caliber Bersa, Model Firestorm, was recovered.
If convicted, Boone faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison for use and discharge of a firearm in a crime of violence and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. No court appearance has been scheduled for Boone, who remains detained on related state charges.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Howard County Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department and Baltimore City Police Department and Howard County State’s Attorney Timothy McCrone for their assistance in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein and Ms. Jessamy commended Special Assistant United States Attorney Traci Robinson, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to EXILE cases, who is prosecuting the case.