Nelson Bryant, a resident of Washington, D.C., has been indicted on a federal firearm charge. This legal action is a component of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative, as announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative is focused on enhancing public safety in the District of Columbia by reducing violent crime. It was established to address gun violence, prioritize federal firearm violations, enforce stricter penalties on offenders, and seek detention for those violating federal firearm laws.
Bryant faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. According to court documents, the incident took place on June 9, 2024, when officers from the MPD were on a routine patrol in the 1900 block of 9th Street NW. A citizen informed an officer about a man carrying a firearm. Officers identified the suspect as Nelson Bryant and observed him allegedly handing a handgun to another person in a crowd. The handgun was dropped by an unknown male who fled the scene, but law enforcement subsequently apprehended Bryant and recovered the firearm.
Bryant is barred from possessing firearms due to a previous felony conviction. The investigation of this case involved ATF and MPD officers and detectives, with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Galloway and Emory V. Cole.
"An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
