USAO: Man convicted of possession of loaded gun had 2 previous felonies in DC

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — A jury found a man who was previously convicted of other felonies guilty of unlawful possession of a loaded gun on Thursday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) for D.C. said in a news release that 34-year-old Ezra Griffith had a loaded firearm with .40 Caliber ammunition in it.

According to evidence in the trial, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were in the parking lot of the Rosedale Recreation Center in Northeast on the evening of Nov. 15, 2023. Officers saw a small group of people forming in the playground, but the park had closed at sundown, which officials said had passed already.

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USAO said that there was a sign next to the playground's only entrance saying that the park's hours were from dawn to dusk.

MPD said that as its officers approached the playground, Griffith "immediately" sat down and seemed to adjust something in his lap. He then got up and started running along the fence. The responding officers briefly lost sight of him, but they stopped him shortly afterward.

Police found a Glock 27 .40 semiautomatic firearm that was loaded with ammunition after checking his flight path.

USAO said that Griffith had two prior convictions in D.C. — one for carrying a pistol without a license, and one for attempted robbery.

Griffith's sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 16, 2025.