Cherokee County Gunman Gets 42 Months

TYLER, TEXAS – A Jacksonville man with a lengthy rap sheet is headed to federal prison after admitting to a brazen shooting in Cherokee County. Eric Pryor, 52, was sentenced to 42 months behind bars on August 21, 2025, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced today.

The incident unfolded on November 17, 2023, when Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reckless driving complaint. What they found was far more serious: doorbell camera footage clearly showed Pryor stepping out of a vehicle and unleashing four shots at another truck. The targeted vehicle swerved violently, crashing through a front yard to escape the gunfire. Deputies quickly located both vehicles on Highway 135.

Pryor didn’t bother denying his actions. He readily confessed to firing the handgun at the truck. But the shooting wasn’t an isolated incident. A deeper dive into Pryor’s background revealed a pattern of criminal behavior. He’s a convicted felon with prior convictions for burglary of a building, possession of a controlled substance, theft of a firearm, evading arrest in a vehicle, and – predictably – another charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Federal law clearly prohibits individuals with felony convictions from owning or possessing firearms. Pryor ignored that law, putting lives at risk with his reckless actions. This case is being touted as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a sweeping federal initiative aimed at tackling illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and reducing violent crime. While the optics suggest a broader campaign, this case demonstrates a focus on holding repeat offenders accountable.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble prosecuted the case, securing the 42-month sentence for Pryor. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the effectiveness of Operation Take Back America in curbing violent crime in East Texas.

This sentencing serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries significant consequences. Eric Pryor’s history of criminal behavior, culminating in this violent act, has earned him a considerable stretch in federal prison. The question remains: will this be enough to deter him – and others like him – from returning to a life of crime upon release?