A man who pointed a loaded handgun at a coach during an elementary school basketball game in Baltimore over a lack of perceived playing time for his son must serve eight years in federal prison, a judge ordered on Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin detailed how Troy Antwaun Spencer has endured a “firehose of violent trauma.” He’s been shot, stabbed, held up at gunpoint and witnessed eight killings, the judge said.
Though they’ve since reconnected, his mother left him to fend for himself at 11. He never graduated from high school or earned his GED. And since 2009, he’s been unemployed.
“I do not view you as a dark-hearted, bad person,” Rubin said. “I think you are deeply troubled.”
“My concern is that you are not a theoretical danger to public safety,” she added. “You are an actual danger to public safety.”
He must also spend three years on supervised release.
As part of a plea agreement, Spencer, 50, of Allendale in Southwest Baltimore, faced a sentence between four years and nine months and eight years in prison. He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Baltimore to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in a school zone.
On March 6, 2023, Spencer started arguing with a coach during a basketball game at Leith Walk Elementary/Middle School over what he thought was a lack of playing time for his son.
A school administrator stepped in to defuse the situation. But Spencer started arguing again and tried to start a fight.
During the argument, Spencer pulled out a loaded Taurus G2c 9 mm handgun and pointed it at the coach. The commotion caused a panic that sent people scrambling for the emergency exits.
Coaches jumped on Spencer and wrestled the gun away. He took off. Baltimore Police arrested him more than a week later.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gordin pushed for a sentence of eight years in prison, noting that Spencer had a long criminal history that included a conviction for second-degree murder.
Gordin spoke about how students in the United States live with the specter of gun violence.
Though Spencer had no plans to kill children, he said, his intentions did not lessen the gravity of the crime.
“His mere presence in the community is an ongoing risk to public safety,” Gordin said.
But Jenn Smith, Spencer’s attorney, requested a sentence of less than five years in prison.
Spencer, she said, sought mental health treatment after one of his best friends was stabbed to death. Days after checking himself out of the hospital, Spencer was sitting in his mother’s car and got shot 11 times.
She said her client was likely experiencing the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
“He was not a reasonable person that day,” Smith said. “Mr. Spencer recognizes this doesn’t excuse his actions.”
Smith requested that her client receive mental health services, drug and alcohol treatment, education and job training.
Before Rubin adjourned the hearing, she left Spencer with some parting words.
She said she hopes that he finally gets the help that he needs.
