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HAHIRA, Ga. (WALB) - A Southwest Georgia man who was arrested after firing a round between customers standing inside a Valdosta convenience store was sentenced, officials announced Monday, April 27, to serve more than 17 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Eric Jerome Tooley, 46, of Hahira, was sentenced to serve 212 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by the U.S Department of Justice on April 23. Tooley previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Jan. 22. There is no parole in the federal system.

You can read previous coverage regarding Tooley’s case here.

“Convicted felons with guns who threaten public safety will be prosecuted federally and held accountable under the law, we are working alongside law enforcement at every level to protect our communities and ensure armed repeat offenders are brought to justice.”

“This defendant’s actions showed a complete disregard for human life—firing inside a business and endangering innocent bystanders.”

The Valdosta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reportedly investigated the case.

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