A man from Billings, who was involved in armed patrols on a sidewalk across from Broadwater Elementary School during the summer of 2023, has been sentenced to three months probation instead of jail time for the crime, as per U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich’s office.
Gabriel Cowan Metcalf, aged 50, received the probation sentence from U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters after pleading guilty in March to unlawfully possessing a firearm in a school zone.
Metcalf was taken into custody in August 2023 following reports of him carrying a gun on his property across from Broadwater Elementary. While most of the time he was on his property, he also brought the gun onto the public sidewalk, street, and alley, leading to his arrest for being within 1,000 feet of a school, as stated by authorities.
During that incident, Metcalf claimed to have had the gun for self-defense due to a disagreement with his neighbor, with no intention to cause alarm at the school. Despite his intentions, the school took precautions by going into lockdown and restricting access to the front playground area closest to Metcalf, until his arrest.
On August 17, 2023, Metcalf admitted to carrying the firearm while following cars, visiting a nearby business, and assisting his mother across the street, according to Laslovich.
Five days later, law enforcement conducted a search of his home and found a 20-gauge shotgun and six rounds of ammunition, which were identified as the weapon he was carrying, as per Laslovich.
“Almost a year ago, as the school year was about to start, Broadwater Elementary School took precautionary measures to ensure the safety of students from Metcalf, and law enforcement agencies were also vigilant. Despite being warned about violating federal law, Metcalf persisted in his armed patrols in the neighborhood and near a school. As we gear up for another school year, the parents and children of Billings schools can rest assured that we will go to great lengths to keep students safe, as demonstrated in this case,” stated Laslovich in a release.
Related: Gun-toting neighbor raises security concerns at Broadwater Elementary
