Tyrone Grailford, a 41-year-old resident of Hopkins, has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
The case details reveal that on December 12, 2021, the City of Columbia Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter alert at a residence on Fairfield Road. Officers arriving at the scene found Grailford near the open passenger side of a vehicle and he informed them that the gunshot originated elsewhere. However, a spent shell casing was discovered near where he stood, and a firearm was located on the vehicle's passenger seat.
Witnesses testified that the gunshot was fired from the yard of the Fairfield Road residence. One witness saw Grailford immediately after the shot, near the vehicle's passenger side. Grailford was subsequently arrested, and a box of 9mm ammunition was found in his possession.
Grailford's criminal record includes convictions for burglary, assault and battery with intent to kill, threatening a public official, and domestic violence, all disqualifying him from legally possessing firearms under federal law.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Grailford to 77 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The federal system does not allow parole.
The investigation benefitted from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). As the only national network for capturing and comparing ballistic evidence, NIBIN helps solve and prevent violent firearm-related crimes by linking crimes across different scenes.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through partnerships between different levels of law enforcement and community organizations. On May 26, 2021, the program strengthened its strategy with a focus on community trust, local organization support, targeted enforcement, and outcome assessment.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.