VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - A 45-year-old Lowndes County man has been arrested and charged with 18 felonies.

According to the Valdosta Police Department (VPD), on Feb. 19, around 3:20 p.m., an officer was patrolling the area near the 1400 block of North Lee Street when he heard gunshots. As the officer was looking for the source of the gunshots, several phone calls were received at E911 about a subject shooting a gun inside Mega Mart. The officer observed a male, later identified as Eric Jerome Tooley, 45, walk out of the store. As he crossed the parking lot, Tooley raised a firearm and discharged it at least twice.

The officer activated his emergency blue lights and siren in an attempt to stop Tooley, who was walking south on North Lee Street. Tooley turned back toward the officer and discharged his firearm twice toward him. Tooley then began to run south through the parking lot of Mr. B’s IGA. The officer began to chase Tooley when he heard another gunshot.

Numerous officers and detectives responded to the area to help locate Tooley, who continued running south between houses. Officers in the area heard another gunshot behind a house. Tooley ran toward an officer staged in the 600 block of East Jane Street. The officer ordered Tooley to the ground at gunpoint, but Tooley dropped his gun in the middle of the road and continued to evade officers. Officers caught up to Tooley, and he was taken into custody.

VPD says, officers and detectives searched all areas where Tooley had discharged the firearm and found that no one had been injured.

Through investigation, detectives determined that Tooley had entered Mega Mart and, while holding a handgun, demanded property from the store clerk. Tooley then discharged the firearm inside the store, in an area where customers were standing. He exited the store with the handgun and shot at a vehicle pulling into the parking lot. As Tooley was walking away from the store, he observed a police officer and shot in his direction.

Tooley then ran through the parking lot of Mr. B’s IGA and shot toward the store. The bullet went through the outside wall and into the business, narrowly missing employees and customers. As Tooley ran between houses, he stopped and, while pointing the gun at a citizen, demanded property. Tooley then continued running, where he was apprehended by officers. The handgun Tooley had was stolen in a burglary just before this incident.

Tooley was transported to Lowndes County Jail. He has been charged with the following:

• Aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (felony)
• 7 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (felony)
• Armed robbery (felony)
• Criminal attempt to commit armed robbery (felony)
• 3 counts of criminal damage to property in the first degree (felony)

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