By: Richard L. Smith
A Jersey City man was sentenced today to nearly eight years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition in connection with an incident in which he shot another individual in the middle of a crowded street in Jersey City, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Christian Freire, 29, of Jersey City, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to an indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Martini imposed the sentence today in federal court in Newark.
The incident occurred a little after midnight on Aug. 29, 2020, when Freire, walking with a group toward Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City, observed two men approaching.
Caught on a surveillance camera from a nearby residence, Freire fired multiple rounds at the men in the middle of the street, sending a large group of bystanders running for cover.
When Jersey City Police Department officers arrived at the scene, Freire attempted to hide but fled as officers approached him.
While fleeing, Freire tossed a handgun toward a church lawn.
Officers later apprehended Freire, a previously convicted felon, and recovered the black Taurus PT111 G2 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number that Freire had thrown.
A victim of the shooting was transported to Jersey City Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the leg.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Martini sentenced Freire to three years of supervised release.
