Cumberland County Man Who Fired at Lee County Deputies Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm

GREENSBORO - A Hope Mills, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to the statutory maximum of 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to a firearm charge, announced Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).

JEREMY SHANE GENTRY, JR., age 30, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment plus 3 years of post-release supervision by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC.

According to court records, on January 14, 2022, Deputies Thomas, Amezquita, and Holmes, with the Lee County Sherriff's Office, were dispatched to the area of 1026 Post Office Road in Sanford, North Carolina following a call. The caller reported that a white male, wearing a hoodie and jeans, was walking down the street with a gun. When the deputies got there, they saw GENTRY, who matched the description provided. Deputy Amezquita asked GENTRY if he would allow him to pat him down for weapons. GENTRY did not consent. Deputy Amezquita asked GENTRY if he had any drugs or weapons on his person, and GENTRY said he did not. Deputy Amezquita then told GENTRY that given the call received, he was going to pat GENTRY down for officer safety. GENTRY began to move away from the deputies, dropped his bookbag, and reached toward his right hip. Deputies Amezquita and Thomas grabbed GENTRY by the arms to try to restrain him, while Deputy Holmes grabbed GENTRY from behind the shoulder in an attempt to take him to the ground, but GENTRY produced a black pistol, later determined to be a Sig Sauer .45 caliber handgun. GENTRY fired one round in the direction of Deputies Amezquita and Holmes, striking Deputy Holmes. The bullet hit Deputy Holmes's underneath the body-worn camera and lodged in his bullet proof vest. Deputy Holmes was fortunately not seriously injured. GENTRY then placed his gun to his head and pulled the trigger, but the gun malfunctioned, and no bullet was discharged. Ultimately, GENTRY was detained.

The Court found, after an evidentiary hearing, that GENTRY intended to kill one or more of the deputies involved. Charges against GENTRY in Lee County relating to that incident are still pending.

At the time of his arrest, GENTRY had been previously convicted of felony human trafficking of an adult victim and felony promoting prostitution (Cumberland County, 2018) and was sentenced to 13-25 months imprisonment. Thus, at the time of the instant offense, GENTRY was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

GENTRY pleaded guilty on December 6, 2024, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).