Four men received federal prison sentences after being convicted of carjacking, assaulting a federal officer, and using a weapon during the crimes committed in Memphis nearly two years ago.
In May of 2021, Julius Armstrong, 20; Adairius Armstrong, 20; Barium Martin, 20; and Malik McCoy, 19, committed a string of violent armed carjackings in Memphis, according to information presented in court cited by the Western District of Tennessee’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Four Memphis Carjackers Who Shot Law Enforcement Officers Sentenced: Julius Armstrong, Adairius Armstrong, Barium Martin, and Malik McCoy have received prison sentences for carjacking, weapons offense, and assaulting a federal officer. https://t.co/Ooa1XxtWz3
— FBI Memphis (@FBIMemphis) January 18, 2023
A traffic camera caught the individuals in one of the stolen vehicles crashing out on May 7, 2021. The men were confronted by two law enforcement officers: a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and a sergeant with the Memphis Police Department (MPD). Using handguns and assault rifles, the four individuals shot at the vehicle the two officers were in, injuring them both, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Julius Armstrong was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a carjacking, assault on a federal officer, and discharging a firearm during the assault.
Adairius Armstrong received 18 years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a carjacking.
Barium Martin got 13 years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a carjacking, and assault on a federal officer.
Malik McCoy obtained 13 years of imprisonment after pleading guilty to carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a carjacking, and assault on a federal officer. Due to his age at the time of the crimes, McCoy was originally charged as a juvenile before being transferred to adult status in federal court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office notes.
“These young men engaged in violent criminal acts, including shooting at and injuring law enforcement officers. Their serious crimes deserved serious sentences. Protecting Americans from gun violence is one of our top priorities, and our efforts in this area will remain robust and unrelenting,” United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz said in a statement.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Background Photo “Courtroom” by Clyde Robinson. CC BY 2.0.
Regarding the 4 ARMED carjackers. It would be helpful to know if their guns were legal or not. If illegal, where did they get these guns. The reason is our POTUS & others in his party always say doing away with guns would prevent all these crimes. He includes law-abiding gun owners and ” assault weapons” which is a term he never defines. Law abiding gun owners are not the thugs out carjacking & shooting at law enforcement. We need to begin reporting this fact as part if the crimes, bc illegal guns is already a crime to start with. I’d just like to see these facts reported so uneducated people understand that those of us who are legal gun owners must protect ourselves from these thugs. By the time the cops arrive on the scene, the victim may already be dead if he cannot defend himself.
I am disappointed that these guys were only sentenced to this level of incarceration.
Is it still the law that federal sentencing is not subject to early release on parole?
DAH! These sentences need to happen more often – the idea is to dissuade future crimes. Releasing them misses the point.