Godson Oghenebrume, age 23, a Nigerian national residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison by U.S. chief judge Shelly Dick following his conviction for possession of a firearm by an alien admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa.
U.S. attorney Kurt Wall announced the sentencing on Tuesday. Mr Oghenebrume is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence.
He was a former Louisiana State University track athlete.
According to admissions made during his plea, on February 7, 2025, Mr Oghenebrume possessed a Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol, while he was admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant F-1 student visa.
Based on the complaint that preceded the indictment, on the night of February 7, 2025, Mr Oghenebrume was in his apartment when an ex-girlfriend, who is also the mother of his infant child, arrived at the apartment with the baby.
Mr Oghenebrume, who had been in the apartment with another young woman, went outside, and an argument ensued between him and the mother of his child.
During this argument, and while the baby was present, Mr Oghenebrume fired a gunshot.
Mr Oghenebrume went back into his apartment. Sometime thereafter, Mr Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend opened his apartment door, observed him and the other young woman in the living room, and the ex-lovers began to argue.
That argument spilled out of the apartment, and Mr Oghenebrume discharged the firearm more times as the mother of his child fled.
Multiple bullet strikes were observed in the walls of the apartment complex.
Mr Oghenebrume smashed his ex-girlfriend’s phone and took the baby, who had been present throughout the incident.
Mr Oghenebrume’s ex-girlfriend then approached the other woman, who was attempting to leave, and asked her for help getting the baby. She agreed to help and was able to get the child from Mr Oghenebrume.
When East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the apartment complex, Mr Oghenebrume walked away from them, ignoring their commands, and discarded the Glock model 43X, 9mm pistol into some shrubs.
Mr Oghenebrume was detained soon thereafter. Deputies spoke to Mr Oghenebrume’s neighbour, who confirmed hearing shots and stated his ears had been ringing.
In a post-Miranda interview, EBRSO detectives asked Mr Oghenebrume why he had shot the firearm in the apartment complex. He claimed that he had wanted his ex-girlfriend to go home and that he had shot the gun to scare her away.
