Grand Rapids Reporter

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Mark Totten, announced today that Rundy Lamar Williams, 35, of Grand Rapids, has been sentenced to 90 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

"My team and I are laser focused on the few people in our communities who drive violence," said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. "Mr. Williams is one of those individuals and today’s sentence takes us one step closer to the freedom from gun violence that everyone deserves, no matter their zip code or the size of their bank account. Safety is a civil right."

On July 15, 2023, Williams was a passenger in a car stopped by Grand Rapids Police Department officers. With active warrants for his arrest and prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms, Williams concealed his identity by providing false identification to officers and hid a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the leg of his pants.

Prior to this encounter with law enforcement, on May 5, 2022, according to video surveillance and eyewitness accounts, Williams and another individual fired multiple rounds into an occupied restaurant in Grand Rapids. Williams has been charged by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for his role in this shooting and is presumed innocent of these charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

After Williams’ arrest on these state charges, he was released on bond and subsequently failed to appear in court as required. On February 8, 2024, officers attempted to arrest Mr. Williams at a residence in Grand Rapids but he refused to exit the residence, causing an hours-long standoff with police. Ultimately, officers had to deploy chemical agents into the residence to get Williams to exit.

"Rundy Williams is a career criminal who cannot lawfully possess firearms. Mr. Williams is believed to have been involved in an incident that could have resulted in mass casualties," said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir. "Simply put, firing rounds into an occupied restaurant is a really bad choice and reprehensible. Our communities deserve better from its members and will be a safer place with Mr. Williams behind bars."

"We appreciate U.S. Attorney Mark Totten’s focus on seeking federal gun charges where appropriate," said GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom. "This partnership with local law enforcement leads to safer communities for all."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Grand Rapids Police Department investigated this case while Assistant United States Attorneys Alexia Jansen and Dan McGraw prosecuted it.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together federal, state, local law enforcement agencies along with community partners to develop effective strategies aimed at reducing violent crime.

For more information about PSN visit www.justice.gov/psn.