Yellowhammer Times

A Mobile man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon during an attempted home invasion that resulted in the death of one suspect.

According to court records, Okoye Jabrayll Day, 23, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers on April 16, 2024. Officers responded to a call about a home invasion at an apartment complex. The victim told dispatchers that several people were trying to break into his apartment and that he had fired shots at the intruders before locking himself in his bathroom. Another resident reported hearing gunshots and saw Day, who uses a wheelchair, leaving the scene with a firearm.

When police arrived, they found one suspected burglar dead from a gunshot wound outside the apartment. The entry door had significant damage and was off its hinges. Investigators also observed bullet holes in the walls and ceiling. Officers later located Day in another building nearby; he had discarded a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol in some bushes. Surveillance footage showed Day, along with the deceased suspect and two unidentified men, attempting to force entry into the apartment.

During questioning by police, Day said he carried the gun for protection because he had previously been shot and paralyzed. He admitted throwing away the weapon because he was under supervision for earlier felony convictions. At the time of this incident, Day’s criminal record included convictions for first-degree receiving stolen property and discharging a firearm into an occupied building—making it illegal under federal law for him to possess firearms.

United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Day to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release with mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment. The judge did not impose a fine but ordered $100 in special assessments and forfeiture of Day’s pistol and ammunition.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced the sentence.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Mobile Police Department investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted on behalf of the United States.

This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at countering illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).