Armed Felon Gets Prison After Threatening To Shoot Light Rail Rider

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to six years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon while on the light rail, Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick announced Thursday.

On Sept. 11, George Matthews IV, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. On Jan. 15, U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim sentenced him to 72 months in federal prison.

Court records reveal that on June 11, an anonymous 911 caller reported a man had threatened to shoot the caller’s boyfriend while riding the light rail in Minneapolis.

The caller provided police with a detailed description of the suspect, who was reportedly carrying a firearm in a blue nylon drawstring backpack.

Officers responded to the Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue light rail station, where they spotted a man matching the description, later identified as 34-year-old Matthews.

Matthews was seen carrying a blue nylon backpack but fled when officers ordered him to stop, according to investigators. During the chase, Matthews abandoned the backpack, authorities said.

Inside the packback was a Kimber Micro 9mm pistol loaded with one round in the chamber and four in the magazine, according to prosecutors. Matthews was arrested shortly afterward and was found wearing a Smith & Wesson belt clip, authorities sa.d

As a convicted felon with prior aggravated robbery charges, Matthews is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Metro Transit Police conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Forbes leading the prosecution.