Accused 347 Shooter Seeks to Reclaim Gun Rights After Murder Charge

In a startling incident on State Route 347, Maricopa Meadows resident Darnell E. Lemons faces multiple charges, including drive-by shooting and aggravated assault. Law enforcement reports indicate that Lemons discharged his firearm nine times into a truck after claiming the driver brake-checked him.

This shootout marks a troubling chapter for Lemons, who just a year ago sought the restoration of his gun rights. His history includes a serious criminal case from 2012 when he was arrested for first-degree murder connected with gang activities, although those charges were ultimately dismissed.

Lemons was convicted of a lesser felony involving weapons misconduct, resulting in a five to seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence and a substantial fine of $150,000. Released in 2017, he later sought to have his civil and gun rights reinstated but received no court response to his March 2024 request.

Notably, Lemons previously attempted to file a lawsuit for personal injuries incurred in a car accident in Chandler, but that case was dismissed six months later.

In the recent shooting incident, Lemons admitted to using his Glock 43X pistol, reportedly owned by him, to shoot at the driver of a Ford F-150. Police discovered ten shell casings in his vehicle. Fortunately, the Ford driver, who remains unnamed, was uninjured, though his truck sustained damage from the gunfire.

Following a ten-mile pursuit through Maricopa, authorities apprehended Lemons near Bowlin Road. He was taken to a local hospital for an unrelated medical issue before being booked into the Pinal County jail.