Felon convicted by Denver jury for illegal possession of ammunition

By David Mullen October 15, 2021 | updated 5 years ago

“It’s not as simple as just ferreting out overt racism, because … if it’s that overt, we already have checks in place to deal with it,” Colorado Criminal Defense Bar policy coordinator Tristan Gorman said. “It’s the implicit biases that are really more insidious — and again, that’s not about intent, it’s about biases that we all have that we may not even be aware of, that are influencing what we’re doing and saying in the courtroom.” (Getty Images)

Jurors convicted a 21-year-old man for illegally possessing ammunition following a deadly shootout in Denver in July 2020.

Zyaire Williams was convicted Thursday in a federal courtroom of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person following a two-day trial, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

Authorities said Williams was involved in a deadly gang shootout on July 1, 2020, inside a liquor store in downtown Denver. He fired seven rounds from a 9mm handgun and the shells were later recovered, according to a release from the attorney’s office.

One person was killed and another was injured during the shootout. Before the incident, Williams had two felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing ammunition, officials said.

A sentencing date has not been scheduled, but Williams faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the crime.

“It’s not as simple as just ferreting out overt racism, because … if it’s that overt, we already have checks in place to deal with it,” Colorado Criminal Defense Bar policy coordinator Tristan Gorman said. “It’s the implicit biases that are really more insidious — and again, that’s not about intent, it’s about biases that we all have that we may not even be aware of, that are influencing what we’re doing and saying in the courtroom.” (Getty Images)

Tags Colorado Crime Denver Felony loss of rights due to conviction for criminal offense u.s. attorney's office for the district of colorado zyaire williams

David Mullen

Reporter