WILMINGTON, NC – Yesterday, John Joseph Simmons, II, a 34-year-old Nashville resident, was convicted by a federal jury for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The incident occurred on May 13, 2023, when Simmons evaded police barricades at Nashville’s Blooming Festival, with a loaded gun in his vehicle.
U.S. Attorney Michael Easley expressed concerns about safety at the festival, which has seen issues with armed individuals in recent years. He commended the partnership with the Nashville Police Department in their intensified efforts to maintain public safety, emphasizing the case as a deterrent against illegal firearms at festivals in Eastern North Carolina.
Court evidence showed Simmons bypassing a police barrier on West Washington Street during the Blooming Festival. A subsequent vehicle stop revealed a Taurus G3C 9mm handgun on the passenger seat. Simmons, previously convicted of robbery and kidnapping, acknowledged the presence of the gun, which was found loaded and without safety engaged.
Caleb Shockley, Head of Investigations at the Nashville Police, highlighted the collaborative efforts with federal agencies to address the rise in firearm-related violence at the festival. The case serves as an example of proactive law enforcement strategies in Nashville.
Simmons is awaiting sentencing, facing up to 15 years in federal prison. He also has pending charges in Nash County related to driving under the influence during the same incident.
