High Speed Chase and Shooting at Police Leads to Federal Prison Sentence

RALEIGH, N.C. – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, May 20, 2021 Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern

District of North Carolina

High Speed Chase and Shooting at Police Leads to Federal Prison Sentence
A Johnston County man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On October 22, 2020, without a plea agreement, Justin Lynn Chapman pled guilty to the indictment which charged conduct that concluded on November 30, 2018.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, on November 30, 2018, troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (SHP) in Raleigh, North Carolina, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a false license plate.  The vehicle pulled off to the shoulder of the road; however, as the trooper approached the driver, the vehicle drove away.

The vehicle passed several vehicles in no passing zones, ran numerous stop signs, traveled left of center, and reached speeds of 110 mph.  During the pursuit, the passenger, Chapman, partially exited the vehicle’s sunroof with a firearm and fired five shots at the pursuing patrol vehicle.  As the vehicle fled down rural roads, Chapman continued to exit the sunroof and fired an additional nine shots toward the patrol vehicles.  The SHP requested assistance from the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office in Smithfield, North Carolina, who deployed stop sticks on the roadway.  The fleeing vehicle’s tires were punctured and after a short distance the vehicle came to a stop.

Chapman fled the vehicle and after a brief man hunt was captured.  A search of Chapman’s person recovered a 9mm handgun with a 30-round extended magazine.  Chapman was interviewed subsequent to his arrest and admitted to discharging his weapon at the patrol vehicle.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, And Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Smith prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-00376-D.
Topic(s): 
Firearms Offenses
Component(s): 
USAO - North Carolina, Eastern
Updated May 20, 2021