COLUMBUS, Ohio — A local gun shop owner said he helped prevent a convicted felon from buying a gun at his shop.
It's all thanks to a newer state law.
Waahid Jaye, 33, was arrested on several charges in 2021 including attempted murder, aggravated assault and discharging a firearm near a prohibited premises. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and the other charges were dropped.
Ohio Revised Code 2923 states anyone under indictment or convicted for any violent offense is prohibited from acquiring, having, carrying or using a firearm.
Surveillance video from inside the LEPD gun shop shows Jaye and his wife walk in, both trying to buy guns.
“She gets a proceed — and it is important to note that they have the same address and it is a federal form that they fill out. He gets delayed — not uncommon. A couple days later on a Tuesday, we get a notification back on the database that he is a deny,” said Eric Delbert, owner of LEPD.
Delbert looked up court records after receiving the notification and found Jaye's previous criminal case.
“We know in Columbus there is so much gun violence right now that if we can do something to effect that change, we are certainly going to take the step to do that,” Delbert said.
Jaye also filled out the federal background check and allegedly checked the box that says he is not a felon.
A law passed in Ohio in 2021 allows local law enforcement to charge felons for lying on a federal form to buy a gun.
Delbert passed along the information to Perry Township police.
Detective Charles Mills said it feels great to know the indictment earlier this month kept a gun from getting into the hands of a felon.
“Every law enforcement officer is much happier preventing a gun from getting onto the streets than trying to get a gun from someone on the streets,” Mills said.
Jaye is being held in a Franklin County jail and was indicted on charges of weapons under disability and unlawful transaction in weapons.
There is an ongoing federal investigation and more charges could be filed.