TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee man is facing upgraded charges for a stolen gun after investigators discovered he was documented member of a local gang.
Lawrence Andrews was taken into custody by a U.S. Marshal's Office deputy on Tuesday for outstanding warrants related to grand theft of a firearm and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Law enforcement first came in contact with Andrews back in November 2017 when they responded to a battery incident in the 2800 block of Tartary Drive.
Andrews was a suspect in the case and was being arrested. When searched him, they found a stolen gun and bullets in his pants.
At the time, Andrews was only charged with carrying a concealed firearm. On Nov. 28 he was charged with grand theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
However, further investigation revealed that Andrews was a documented member of a local "hybrid gang" known as Hit Squad. Hybrid gangs are usually local, street gangs with loose organizational structure and leadership.
Due to the revelation, Andrews' charges were upgraded with "gang enhancement," meaning the penalty for the charges could be more severe.
He remains in the Leon County Detention Center on a $35,000 bond.
