One person sentenced for shooting at mail carrier in Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA — A Pittsburgh man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for shooting at a mail carrier and illegally possessing a firearm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania announced Thursday.

Martinel Humphries, 30, received the 120-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand on April 9, 2025.

Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti said the sentence stems from an incident on January 5, 2023, when Humphries fired four shots from a semi-automatic pistol at a mail carrier for no apparent reason.

The bullets missed the carrier, who fell to the ground upon seeing the weapon, but struck a nearby home, shattering the front glass door.

Humphries fled the scene and was apprehended shortly after by law enforcement.

At the time of the shooting, Humphries was on federal supervised release from a prior conviction for illegally possessing a firearm.

His criminal record includes two firearms convictions in 2015 related to arrests in 2013 and 2015, and a 2021 federal conviction for the same offense.

“Federal employees must be able to work without fearing for their personal safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti.

“This sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s violent act, shooting at a mail carrier who was in the middle of his route. Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners at all levels to prioritize combating violent crimes such as committed by this defendant.”

Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge of the Pittsburgh Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, also emphasized the importance of protecting postal workers.

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to its core mission of protecting postal employees,” said Allison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Guappone prosecuted the case. The investigation was led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with support from the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police Department, Ross Township Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.