Armed standoff with police leads to lengthy sentence for Quincy man

FLORIDA – A Quincy man has been sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison after he pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida has announced.

Jermaine Lee Walker, 45, of Quincy, Florida, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison after he pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The prison term will be followed by five years of supervised release.  Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence.

“Those who repeatedly commit serious crimes are deserving of significant prison sentences,” said Coody.

“Our brave law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe and are to be commended for apprehending this armed career criminal and bringing his reign of violence to an end.”

Court documents reflect that on April 5, 2021, the Quincy Police Department (QPD) and Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) responded to a 911 call regarding a man holding a woman at gunpoint. QPD officers arrived on the scene and spoke with residents who explained a man and woman were inside, struggling over a firearm.

QPD officers said they entered the house and found Walker struggling with his girlfriend over control of a revolver. Walker reportedly ignored commands to drop the firearm and told officers to give him five minutes and then return.

Walker reportedly kept his girlfriend between himself and the officers, using her as a human shield. Walker pointed the firearm at his girlfriend and pointed the firearm at the officers. GCSO deputies arrived on the scene and entered the residence.

According to court documents, one deputy was able to get a clear shot at Walker and shot him in the hip/buttock area. Walker then dropped the firearm, was arrested, and given medical attention. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the officer-involved shooting.

“This sentencing is a testament to the effectiveness of the law enforcement community—local, state, and federal alike—when we partner with the United States Attorney’s Office and the community to prevent and solve community-related problems together, as well as to hold those accountable who violate the laws of our state and nation,” said Chief Timothy Ashley, Quincy Police Department.

Walker qualified for enhanced sentencing because he had previously been convicted of arson of a structure, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and two separate incidents of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Walker had been to prison on four separate occasions and was released from prison approximately six months before this offense. He was on state probation at the time of this offense, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

The sentencing resulted from the collaborative work of the Quincy Police Department, the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.