A Detroit resident has been sentenced to 25 months in federal prison for discharging a firearm on a crowded sidewalk last July. The case was announced by Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck.
Beck's announcement was supported by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division, and Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison.
The individual, identified as 30-year-old Christopher Wade, faced judgment from United States District Judge Matthew F. Leitman.
Court documents reveal that Wade fired nine shots into the air after a dispute at the busy crossroads of Woodward Avenue and Adams Avenue, Grand Circus Park. While no injuries were reported, one bullet hit a passing vehicle. Police arrived swiftly and detained Wade without any further complications. Video footage from security cameras documented the incident. This marked the second such incident involving Wade within a month and the fourth over the past decade.
In November 2024, Wade pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Assistant United States Attorney Philip M. Jacques prosecuted the case. The investigation was a collaborative effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, assisted by the Detroit Police Department.