Opinion ID: 792851
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sentencing Guidelines Enhancements

Text: 20 Jourdain next argues the district court erred when it applied two enhancements to his base offense level for (1) discharge of a firearm and (2) permanent or life-threatening bodily injury. We review the district court's interpretation and application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo and its factual findings regarding enhancements for clear error. United States v. Noe, 411 F.3d 878, 888 (8th Cir.2005) (citation omitted). 5 21 The Guidelines authorize holding defendants responsible for all reasonably foreseeable acts . . . of others in furtherance of the jointly undertaken criminal activity, that occurred during the commission of the offense. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B). In aggravated assault cases, a five-level enhancement is applied for the discharge of a firearm. U.S.S.G. § 2A2.2(b)(2)(A). Jourdain contends the firearm enhancement was applied erroneously because he was not involved in the shooting and the use of the firearm was not foreseeable to him. We disagree. The .22 caliber rifle was visible in the passenger compartment in the car in which Jourdain was riding. A few hours before Cobenais's murder, Jourdain unsuccessfully solicited Matrious to shoot another man. Jourdain and his close friends had a history of hostility toward Cobenais. The shooter, Maxwell, a few weeks before the shooting, threatened to kill Cobenais. When the trio encountered Cobenais walking alone, Jourdain jumped out of the vehicle with Desjarlait, confronted Cobenais, and after the shooting, war whoop[ed] as the three fled the scene. Because there is sufficient evidence the use of the firearm was reasonably foreseeable to Jourdain, we conclude the district court properly applied the five-level enhancement for the discharge of a firearm pursuant to U.S.S.G. §§ 1B1.3(a)(1)(B) and 2A2.2(b)(2)(A). 22 We reach the same conclusion with regard to the district court's application of the five-level enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A2.2(b)(3)(C) for degree of bodily injury. 6 Although Cobenais ultimately died from the gunshot wounds he sustained, it does not follow that he did not sustain permanent or life-threatening bodily injury within the meaning of the Sentencing Guidelines. For similar reasons as discussed previously, sufficient evidence exists to show the gunshot wounds Cobenais sustained caused him permanent or life-threatening bodily injury separate and apart from his subsequent death. Thus, we conclude the district court properly applied this enhancement as well.