A 64-year-old Baltimore man under surveillance for suspected illegal firearms dealing was allegedly recorded on Monday telling an undercover federal informant that he planned to "shoot some cops" after the acquittal of Officer Edward Nero in the Freddie Gray case, according to an affidavit filed in federal court by a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Robert Lee "Cowboy" Owens, 64, of the 5100 block of Sunset Road in the Levindale neighborhood of North Baltimore, was arrested Monday and charged with possession of a firearm by a previously convicted person, according to court records.
According to the affidavit of Special Agent Arnold Esposito, filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, a criminal informant for the ATF had previously been offered a firearm by Owens, and agreed to an ATF plan to purchase it from him in a vehicle equipped with audio and video recording devices. The informant then drove to Owens' home, with funds provided by the ATF, and purchased the weapon, identified as a Western Field Model M865 .22-caliber long rifle.
During the transaction, Owens allegedly told the informant that the gun was loaded with a single bullet. When the informant asked him why, he allegedly responded, "...I was getting ready to use it to shoot some cops...cuz they done made that mother[expletive] innocent."
After noting the exchange, Esposito wrote, "On that same date, a not guilty verdict was handed down by a Baltimore City Circuit Court judge relating to the trial of a Baltimore City Police Officer involved in the Freddie Gray matter."
Nero was one of six Baltimore police officers charged in the arrest and death of Gray; he was cleared of all charges on Monday.
Gray, 25, died from severe spinal injuries that prosecutors say he suffered in the back of a police transport van. His death sparked widespread protests against police brutality. His funeral was followed by rioting, looting and arson.
An arrest warrant in online court records noted Owens was arrested the same day. He could not be reached for comment, and did not have an attorney listed in online court records.
The ATF did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
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