Wilmington man pleads guilty to possessing stolen handgun

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A convicted felon is going to prison after pleading guilty to possessing a stolen handgun.

Saquan Lyons, 30, will spend up to six years in prison for possession of firearm by a felon and possession of stolen firearm.

On April 11, 2023, officers from the Wilmington Police Department stopped an Infiniti sedan near the intersection of Princess Street and North 5th Avenue. When the car stopped, Lyons got out and ran off. During the chase, police saw Lyons remove a gun from his waistband and throw it in the bushes.

Lyons was stopped in the 600 block of Chestnut Street.

Officers found a Springfield 9 mm handgun inside the bushes where Lyon threw it. During a search, officers found a bullet in Lyons’ pocket that matched the ammunition inside the gun.

Lyons is not allowed to possess a gun due to multiple prior felony convictions. Later, police discovered the gun was stolen a few days before from a Wilmington resident.