A 23-year-old Nigerian sprinter, Godson Oghenebrume, has been sentenced to 27 months in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm while in the country on a student visa.
Court documents revealed that the incident happened at his apartment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during a confrontation involving his ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his infant child.
Reports stated that an argument broke out when the woman arrived at the apartment with their baby, during which Oghenebrume allegedly fired the weapon while the child was present.
The dispute later continued outside the apartment, where he allegedly fired additional shots as his ex-girlfriend attempted to leave. Investigators reportedly found multiple bullet holes at the apartment complex.
Authorities also alleged that he damaged his ex-girlfriend’s phone and took the baby before another woman at the scene intervened and returned the child.
When East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies arrived, officials said Oghenebrume refused to comply with commands, walked away from officers and threw the firearm into nearby bushes before being arrested.
A neighbour reportedly told investigators that the gunshots were extremely loud and left his ears ringing.
During questioning, Oghenebrume admitted firing the gun, claiming he only wanted to scare his ex-girlfriend into leaving.
U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced him to 27 months in prison. After completing his sentence, the Nigerian athlete will face removal or deportation proceedings from the United States.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted under Operation Take Back America.
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