Plea Deal: The Gunman Who Took A Cab Over Newport Bridge

NEWPORT, RI – The Coventry man involved in a Memorial Day quarrel over a dead woman's belongings pleaded guilty in Providence federal court Thursday to being a felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Marcus A. Venson, 29, was arrested Memorial Day after witnesses reported he showed them a silver Smith & Wesson and left Connell Highway in a cab. Newport police put out a bulletin. State police took him into custody after he took an Orange Cab over the Newport Pell bridge, and North Kingstown police spotted the taxi on Route 4. Venson had previously been convicted of drug trafficking in Rhode Island state court. State police said they found the gun, which was loaded, when they arrested him.

According to Newport police, on May 26 at 10:12 a.m., officers were called to a home on Pond Avenue for an incident about a neighbor who had died overnight. People were arguing about her possessions. One woman arrived and left. Then her daughter, another woman and two men arrived in a different car. One of the men was known as 'Shocks' or 'Spocks,' a resident told police. Shocks had one foot in a cast. An argument broke out. The resident armed himself with a wooden stick and tried to retreat into the house. Shocks, however, lifted up his shirt to reveal a Western style silver gun. Police were called. But Shocks had already left.

Later the same day at 2:28 p.m., a woman called police and showed officers a cell phone picture of a man with a gun. She called him 'Stacks,' and said one of his feet was in a cast. She was giving him and her girl friend a ride when he hit her girl friend. She told him to stop. He showed her the gun in his waistband. She took a picture and told police she felt threatened. She told police he was from Coventry and might be headed over the Newport Pell Bridge in an Orange Cab.

Venson is due for sentencing April 19.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the arrest and plea are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a "federal, state and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods."

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