Men Found Guilty in Connection with 2021 Standoff on I-95
WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Massachusetts State Police Colonel Jack Mawn have confirmed that two defendants, Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer and Steven Anthony Perez, have been found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court jury for their roles in the 2021 eight-and-a-half hour armed standoff on I-95 in Wakefield.
Jamhal Latimer has been found guilty of unlawful possession of a large capacity weapon, unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a shotgun or rifle, improper storage of a rifle or shotgun near a minor, use or wearing body armor during a felony, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Steven Anthony Perez has been found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and use or wearing body armor during a felony.
“The defendants in this case disrupted multiple communities and jeopardized the safety of many residents who were traveling or intending to travel on a busy Fourth of July weekend,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Both Jamhal Tavon Sanders Latimer and Steven Anthony Perez demonstrated a disregard for our laws and failed to comply with the directives of multiple police agencies on scene. In Massachusetts we have strict laws regarding the licensing of firearms. When individuals come here with weapons, especially high capacity firearms like the ones these defendant had, without being in compliance, they create a substantial danger. The law enforcement agencies that responded that day navigated a very difficult, long and highly publicized situation while ensuring that no one got hurt.”
“The complex, hours-long standoff that was the subject of this case posed a significant public safety risk on one of the busiest travel days of the year. Despite the inherent risk of illegally-possessed powerful weapons in the hands of these individuals, the Massachusetts State Police, including our STOP Team and crisis negotiators, Wakefield Police, and the NEMLEC SWAT Team used their training and expertise to contain, deescalate, and achieve a peaceful resolution with no injuries to the offenders, the public, or first responders themselves,” Massachusetts State Police Colonel Jack Mawn said. “I also commend the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office for their excellent work to secure justice through the successful prosecution of this case.”
On July 3, 2021, the defendants and two of their vehicles were located by State Police in the breakdown lane of I-95 in Wakefield wearing military style camouflage clothing and body armor. Latimer was armed with an AR-style large capacity rifle and falsely claimed that he was the leader of an armed militia from Rhode Island. The defendants claimed that they were on their way from Rhode Island to “train” in Maine. Latimer and Perez were in the company of nine other individuals, who Latimer referred to as “his men.” They were similarly clad in camouflage military-style clothing and body armor. At least two of these individuals were also carrying loaded, large-capacity AR-style riles with large capacity magazines. Police learned that the defendants did not have drivers’ licenses or registrations for the vehicles they were driving or licenses for the firearms they were brandishing. When officers asked the defendants to put their weapons down, they refused, resulting in an eight-and-a-half hour long standoff. Eventually, after speaking with Massachusetts State Police crisis negotiators, the defendants surrendered and were arrested. Following their arrest, police seized three large capacity AR-style rifles from the defendants’ vehicles, a bolt-action rifle, a semi-automatic shotgun, two “drum” large capacity magazines capable of holding fifty rounds or more, dozens of thirty-plus round large capacity magazines and three semi-automatic pistols along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition in varying calibers.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2024 by Middlesex Superior Court Justice David Deakin.
This case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section and the Wakefield Police Department. The assigned assistant district attorneys was Graham Van Epps and Ryan Rall.