A former BET network personality was charged with possession of a .37 mm launcher after authorities said he used it to shoot flares into the sky during a New Year’s celebration in Northwest Washington.
Actor, rapper and television personality Algernon J. “Jay” Cooper III, who hosted the network’s popular “Teen Summit” show, was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon and released from D.C. Superior Court on his own recognizance. Cooper, 26, was scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing Jan. 21.
Cooper could not be reached for comment.
D.C. police said they were responding to the sound of a loud boom coming from an alley on the 1200 block of Delafield Street Northwest shortly after midnight Tuesday when they came across Cooper and a woman holding a small white dog. When Cooper and the woman saw the oncoming cruiser, they fled toward the 4800 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest, where police on foot chased down the duo, police said.
Officers recovered a camouflaged Cobray .37 millimeter flare-gas launcher with one live round of ammunition in the weapon, charging documents said. Police also found a black backpack containing a live round and two spent rounds of .37 mm ammunition, officials said. The backpack was labeled with Cooper’s name on the inside of the bag.
The .37 mm launcher attaches to the bottom of a gun barrel and is designed to fire less-than-lethal ammunition, such as flares, smoke grenades or tear gas grenades. It’s generally used by law enforcement to suppress riots.
Cooper, a native of Washington, is best known as the 2000-2003 host of the “Teen Summit,” a TV show that dealt with the everyday issues of young people and offered guidance to teens. He also appeared in the movies “Up Against the 8 Ball” and “Family Reunion: The Movie.”
