Violent felon charged with possession of handgun in Gary

A Northwest Indiana man was charged Saturday with serious violent felon in possession of a firearm in Gary.

Alton C. Weatherspoon, 27, of Gary, held a gun to victims’ heads and fired shots at the victims as they drove off in a car in the 2000 block of West 5th Avenue, according to a statement from the Gary Police Department.

He was taken into custody directly after the incident and investigators discovered Weatherspoon was in possession an altered handgun, police said.

Weatherspoon was charged with serious violent felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a machine gun, possession of a hand gun with no permit by a felon, and two counts each of intimidation and criminal recklessness, all felonies, police said. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement.

As of Saturday afternoon, Weatherspoon remained in custody in Gary.