Beaumont man sentenced to federal prison following neighborhood shootout
BEAUMONT, Texas –A Beaumont felon has been sentenced to federal prison following a neighborhood shootout in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Martinez Lamond Baltrip, 29, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 20, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on August 5, 2025, law enforcement responded to a shooting near Avenues G and H in Beaumont. Officers found Baltrip at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound. An investigation revealed Baltrip and the person who shot him had been involved in an ongoing dispute when Baltrip came upon him working on his vehicle. Baltrip approached the individual and pulled out a 9mm pistol and began firing. The other person retrieved a shotgun and returned fire on Baltrip, striking him. Baltrip retreated to his vehicle and called police. Police responded and recovered 9mm shell casings from the scene, which Baltrip admitted to firing. Further investigation revealed Baltrip is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.