U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Man Sentenced to 189 Months after Firing on Law Enforcement in Winston-Salem
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of North Carolina
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A Forsyth County, North Carolina, man was sentenced in Winston-Salem to a total of more than 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to felon in possession of a firearm, announced Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
Cortez Desean IRELAND, age 24, pleaded guilty on May 6, 2025, to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). He was sentenced today to 165 months’ imprisonment plus 3 years of post-release supervision by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC.
At the time of the incident that led to this charge, IRELAND was on federal post-release supervision for a prior felon in possession of a firearm conviction. For violating the terms of that supervised release, IRELAND was additionally sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to run consecutive to the other sentence.
According to court records, in the early hours of June 25, 2024, officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) were called to a domestic disturbance with a report of shots fired. A woman reported that her ex-boyfriend IRELAND had pointed a gun at her and her cousin, demanded their cellphones, and then discharged a single shot into the wall over the women’s heads. IRELAND left the apartment shortly after and the women called police. WSPD officers responded and began searching the area. As Officer-1 approached the apartment complex, she observed IRELAND and another man walking down the street and observed that IRELAND had a gun in his right hand. As Officer-2 began to slow down and put his patrol car in park, IRELAND fired at him, shattering the back driver’s side window. Officer-2 exited his vehicle and returned fire. IRELAND and the other man fled, but IRELAND was found a few minutes later, less than half a mile away. When officers frisked IRELAND for weapons, they found a Taurus 9mm in his front pants pocket loaded with 10 live rounds. Following his arrest, IRELAND told Officer-2, “I’m going to kill you next time.”
The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Martin.
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Updated November 17, 2025
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