Mayhem maker who tried to shoot Homestead cop gets stiff sentence

A man who tried to shoot a Homestead police officer in an alley two years ago after fleeing from a traffic stop was sentenced last week to serve 35 years in federal prison on gun and drug charges.

Erik Addison, 29, formerly of Homestead pleaded guilty in February to four counts, including possession of a machine gun and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, before U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.

The parties agreed to a 35-year sentence in federal court, in addition to a sentence of 20 to 40 years in state prison that Addison received in February after pleading guilty to assault of a law enforcement officer.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Addison was on supervised release in another federal case when he committed the crimes at issue.

“He was involved in a shootout in a busy shopping center, which spilled into a crowded residential neighborhood. A few weeks later, he fled a traffic stop, rammed police vehicles, almost ran over a police officer, and shot at a police officer,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Maloney. “During the bulk of his time on supervised release, he was dealing large amounts of fentanyl and possessing guns, including a machine gun.

“It is difficult to accurately and appropriately describe the risk the defendant posed to the public at large, less than six months after he had been released from federal prison.”

1-man wrecking crew

According to court filings, at 2:36 p.m. on April 14, 2023, Addison engaged in a gun battle with people in the parking lot of Edgewood Town Centre. Although no one was hit, a storefront and several vehicles were.

Then, investigators said, Addison, driving a grey Infiniti sedan, chased the people, who were trying to flee in a black Dodge Charger.

Police said another occupant of the Infiniti fired multiple shots as the chase continued on South Braddock Avenue to Schoyer Avenue to Hays Street.

Later in the chase, a school bus was caught in the crossfire.

Then, on May 8, 2023, when investigators attempted to stop Addison in his Infiniti at Imogene Road and Browns Hill Road in Squirrel Hill South, he fled.

Addison slammed his car into one police car behind him and another in front of him and nearly struck a detective on foot.

He fled down Browns Hill and across the Homestead Grays Bridge, striking another vehicle, prosecutors said.

Addison then pulled over on 8th Avenue and ran, with Homestead police Officer Randy Ernst following him in his patrol car. Ernst saw the suspect had a gun, prosecutors said, and ordered him to drop it.

But Addison refused and fired twice at Ernst, missing both times, the government said.

Ernst fired three shots, striking Addison in the right leg.

Addison, still holding the gun, continued to flee before being pinned by a West Homestead police officer’s patrol car against the wall of a building.

It was then Addison dropped the gun.

Police later learned that it was a .9 mm handgun that had a machine gun conversion device known as a Glock switch.

It matched the weapon used in the Edgewood Towne Center shootout, prosecutors said.

Inside Addison’s vehicle, investigators found 28 bricks of heroin and fentanyl and an extended gun magazine.

Addison was indicted in federal court in June 2023.

Tough upbringing

Although the defense did not attempt to excuse Addison’s behavior, in a court filing they wrote that he had a difficult childhood.

Addison’s mother went to prison for drug distribution when he was 7. Then, at age 11, Addison learned that his father was a notorious Hazelwood drug dealer named Gary Moorefield, who is currently serving a 25-year federal prison sentence.

Addison had his first juvenile adjudication at age 12 when he and another person were accused of multiple counts of reckless endangerment, the filing continued.

Addison remained in juvenile placement for nearly four years before going to live with his aunt.

“It is hard not to draw a straight line from Mr. Addison’s disadvantaged childhood to his criminal lifestyle and present circumstances,” his attorney wrote.

The filing also noted that Addison has continuing medical problems. When he was pinned by the police car, his right leg was shattered, including a broken fibula, tibia and ankle, as well as an injury to his femoral artery, the defense said.

Addison has required multiple surgeries and now has a drop foot.