Richmond man sentenced to nine years in prison after firing a rifle near a neighborhood playground

RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on February 11, 2024, Richmond Police heard two gunshots near a Fairfield Court neighborhood playground. The officers observed two individuals fleeing and began a foot pursuit. One of the individuals, later identified as Bobby Nathaniel Scott, 39, tripped and fell near a set of trashcans and dropped a rifle on the sidewalk. The officers quickly apprehended Scott and recovered the rifle, which was loaded with a 20-round magazine.

Scott has ten prior felony convictions, including for, among other crimes, domestic assault, grand theft auto, possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, distribution of cocaine, and eluding the police. Scott was on active probation at the time of his arrest and faces pending charges in Prince George County for robbery, strangulation, and malicious wounding. As a convicted felon, Scott cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Colette Wallace McEachin, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Groover, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-72.