Billings Felon Gets Over 3 Years For Drive-By

From the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana:

Azuriah Austin Stallcup, a 20-year-old Billings resident, was sentenced to three years and ten months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for a firearms crime. Stallcup's actions included escaping from a pre-release center, committing a drive-by shooting, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase, and finally being apprehended. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich made the announcement Friday, June 7th.

Stallcup, who pleaded guilty in February to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, faced U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters for sentencing.

According to court documents, Stallcup's criminal spree began on July 6, 2023, while he was a wanted escapee from a Butte pre-release center. He traveled to Billings, acquired a stolen .40-caliber firearm, and fired multiple shots into a house from his stolen vehicle. Residential surveillance cameras captured the incident, identifying Stallcup and the vehicle.

The next day, Billings Police Department officers tracked Stallcup to a house. As he attempted to leave in the stolen vehicle, Stallcup rammed a police car, crashed into a civilian vehicle, and fled on foot. During the pursuit, officers witnessed Stallcup discard a pistol over a fence. He was ultimately tackled by the owner of the car he had struck and arrested with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

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Officers recovered a .40-caliber pistol at the scene. Stallcup, previously convicted of assault with a weapon, was legally prohibited from possessing firearms, leading to his current conviction and sentence.

Source: justice.gov