William Morrison, Jr., a 26-year-old resident of Buffalo, NY, has been arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. This charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is managing the case, provided details from the complaint. On the night of July 19, 2024, Buffalo Police responded to reports of a man with a gun near Ashley and Mohr Streets. The suspect, identified as Morrison, was reportedly wearing an ankle bracelet and brandishing a black pistol. He was seen entering an Ashley Street residence described as a "dope house." Upon arrival at the scene, officers saw Morrison fleeing from the back of the residence and quickly apprehended him. A loaded 9mm handgun was found in the yard where Morrison had run.
Morrison has a prior felony conviction for a gun charge from November 2019 in Erie County Court, which legally prohibits him from possessing firearms.
Following his arrest, Morrison appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is currently held pending a detention hearing.
The investigation leading to this complaint involved collaboration between the Buffalo Police Department, led by Commissioner Alfonse Wright, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller.
It is important to note that charges are accusations at this stage; Morrison is presumed innocent until proven guilty.