Birmingham man who injured Sen. Joe Manchin’s wife during police chase pleads guilty to firearms charge

Birmingham man charged in car crash earlier this year injured the wife of US Senator Joe Manchin pleaded guilty to a federal weapons offense.

Traddarril Rishad Boykins, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge L. Scott Kugler to being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to an announcement Wednesday from U.S. Attorney Prima Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama and ATF Special Agent Marcus Watson.

Boykins still faces multiple state charges in connection with the January crash it happened during a police chase that started in Homewood and ended in Birmingham.

On January 29, 2024, Homewood police officers spotted Boykins and realized he had outstanding warrants. They tried to pull him out, but he did not stop.

The chase proceeded along Green Springs Highway at speeds of 80 mph. He was on the wrong side of the road, running red lights and jumping curbs, authorities said.

The chase continued to Interstate 65 before exiting at 17th Street in Birmingham, still at a high rate of speed.

Boykins then crashed into a car carrying Gail Manchin, the federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, and her colleague, Guy Land. Manchin was a passenger in an SUV driven by Land.

Manchin has a fractured sternum and internal bleeding. Land suffered eight broken ribs and a broken arm.

At the time of the crash, Boykin had a .40-caliber handgun on the floor that matched the gun used in the previous shooting in Homewood.

Boykin is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions for robbery and robbery.

The ATF investigated this case along with the Homewood Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney William R. McComb is prosecuting.

A sentencing date has not yet been announced.