United States v. Sandstrom

SMITH, Circuit Judge.

A jury found Steven Sandstrom and Gary Eye (collectively, “defendants”) guilty for their roles in the shooting death of William McCay, an African-American male. Sandstrom and Eye targeted McCay because of his race while he walked on a public street. Defendants were charged with (1) interfering with federally-protected activities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 245(b)(2)(B) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (“Count 1”); (2) using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence as set forth in Count 1, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(l)(A)(iii) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (“Count 2”); (3)…