Niles felon caught with ‘crime gun’ gets 3.5 years in prison

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Niles man will spend years behind bars after he was caught with several weapons while on probation, including a “crime gun,” federal attorneys say.

Lawrence Edward Slaughter II, 20, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for being a felon with a firearm with a “switch” that had been connected to deadly shootings, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan announced Tuesday.

In September of 2022, Slaughter was on probation for tampering with evidence, concealing a weapon and assaulting a police officer. That’s when police got word that members of the Pop Out Gang of Niles were planning a retaliatory shooting for the recent deaths of two people, attorneys said. Police had learned the gang was planning to use weapons that were at Slaughter’s home.

Probation and law enforcement officers paid Slaughter a visit for probation compliance and searched his home, finding a Glock 9mm handgun and an AR rifle with a magazine that could hold up to 100 rounds in a roommate’s bedroom, attorneys said.

They also found two more pistols in the bedroom closet, including a 9mm Glock with DNA evidence connected to Slaughter. It had a “switch” attached, which effectively turns a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon. Attorneys say the weapon was a “crime gun,” which was linked to four prior shootings that happened in South Bend, Indiana.

“From large cities to small towns like Niles, Michigan, we are laser-focused on stopping the few individuals – like Mr. Slaughter – who are driving gun violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten in a news release. “Safety is a civil right. Every person, regardless of their zip code, deserves to live their life, walk their neighborhood, and play in the park free from the fear of violence and gunfire. We will not stop until this right is a reality for everyone.”

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