WASHINGTON — Hours after the acquittal of Baltimore police officer Edward Nero in the Freddie Gray case, a man under surveillance for illegal gun sales was allegedly recorded saying he planned to “shoot some cops” because Nero was found not guilty, according to court documents.
Robert Lee Owens of Baltimore was arrested Monday and charged with possession of a firearms by a previously convicted person, according to online court records. The arrest was first reported by The Baltimore Sun.
According to an affidavit in support of criminal complaint, filed in federal court, Special Agent Arnold Esposito of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had been investigating Owens for firearms trafficking.
Owens had been previously convicted and served prison time for two drug charges.
On Monday, a confidential informant working for the ATF arranged to buy a weapon from the person she knew as “Cowboy.” When shown a driver’s license photo of Owens, she identified him as “Cowboy.”
The informant drove to Owens’ home, in North Baltimore, in an ATF undercover vehicle outfitted with video and audio recording equipment.
According to the complaint, Owens came to the vehicle with an object draped in an American flag — a Western Field Model M865 .22-caliber long rifle.
During the transaction, Owens told the informant that the gun was loaded with one bullet.
Asked why he was providing a loaded gun, Owens said “I was getting ready to use it to shoot some cops … cuz they done made that mother (expletive) innocent.”
The informant handed over the predetermined $200 — provided by the ATF — and bought the gun, which was taken into ATF custody.
An arrest warrant in court records showed Owens was arrested that same day.
The ATF has not responded to a request for comment.
Nero was one of six Baltimore police officers charged in connection with Gray’s death. He was cleared of all charges on Monday.
Gray died of severe spinal injuries, which prosecutors say happened while riding in the back of a police van.
