Missouri – A Missouri man will spend more than five years in federal prison after authorities determined he illegally possessed a stolen firearm, bringing a case that began with a tense street encounter to a close in federal court.
Zyair J. Taylor, 24, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to 66 months in prison without parole by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips after being convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Federal law prohibits individuals with felony convictions from possessing firearms, and prosecutors said Taylor’s criminal history placed him squarely within that restriction.
The events leading to the arrest unfolded on May 21, 2025, when Kansas City police officers set up surveillance at a residence in the 400 block of Lawn Avenue.
Authorities were attempting to locate and arrest Taylor on outstanding warrants. Officers maintained watch outside the property, waiting for an opportunity to safely take him into custody.
When Taylor eventually exited the residence, the situation quickly escalated. Upon spotting the officers, he ran. What began as a brief moment outside the home quickly turned into a foot chase through the neighborhood.
During the pursuit, officers observed Taylor pulling a firearm from his jacket. The weapon was described as a black handgun fitted with a large drum magazine. Police repeatedly ordered him to drop the gun, but instead Taylor threw the weapon over his head while continuing to run.
Officers eventually caught up with him, though the arrest did not come quietly. According to court records, Taylor physically resisted as officers attempted to detain him. After he was taken into custody, officers recovered the firearm he had discarded during the chase.
Investigators later identified the weapon as a Taurus Model G3c 9mm handgun. The firearm was loaded, with one round already chambered and an additional 49 rounds stored inside the drum magazine. Authorities also determined the gun had been reported stolen two years earlier, in 2023, from Columbia, Missouri.
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Taylor’s background also played a significant role in the case. Court documents revealed that he had already been convicted of five felony offenses prior to the incident, making it illegal for him to possess any firearm.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh following an investigation by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Federal officials said the prosecution also falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at addressing violent crime and dismantling criminal networks.
With the sentencing now finalized, the case marks another instance in which federal authorities have used firearms laws to pursue individuals prohibited from carrying weapons, particularly when those weapons are tied to prior criminal activity.
