Man sentenced to over 8 years for terrorizing Norfolk neighborhood with rifle

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – A man was sentenced to over eight years in prison after terrorizing a neighborhood in September of 2023.

According to officials, on Sept. 3 around 8 p.m., 28-year-old Daniel Joseph Ferguson Jr. was walking through the Alden Heights neighborhood with an AR-style rifle with a fully loaded magazine.

While on Boxwood Circle, Ferguson rummaged through a vehicle parked in a driveway. The owner of the vehicle eventually noticed and attempted to confront Ferguson, but backed away once Ferguson began pointing his rifle towards him, police said.

Shortly afterwards, Ferguson trespassed into the backyard of a Brazilian family, who was holding an evening bible study outside at the time. Ferguson then approached the family, pointed his rifle at them, threatened to kill them and said, “get off my land.”

After the family ran back inside, Ferguson went around to the front of the home and tapped on the window with his rifle before leaving, police said.

Ferguson then noticed a car approaching a stop sign. Once the driver began driving off, Ferguson fired one round through the rear window, missing the driver. As a result, the glass shattered, ultimately injuring the driver.

Norfolk Police arrived to the scene after multiple neighbors called 911. While Ferguson was being taken into custody, he was heard saying racial epithets and asking the officers to let him go so he could “hunt and kill” those minority groups.

On Aug. 7, Ferguson pled guilty to two counts of misdemeanor brandishing, misdemeanor hate crime assault, felony attempted malicious wounding and felony shooting into an occupied vehicle. As part of Ferguson’s plea, the Commonwealth agreed to not pursue a charge of using a firearm in attempting to commit malicious wounding.

On Friday, Sept. 27, Ferguson was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison.

10 On Your Side’s Karina F. Garcia was in court and will provide updates throughout the day.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates .

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