Eric Jerome Tooley, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Georgia 2025

Valdosta Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession

Eric Jerome Tooley, a 46-year-old man from Hahira, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 212 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Tooley fired shots inside a Valdosta convenience store, putting innocent bystanders at risk.

Mandatory Facts

• Defendant: Eric Jerome Tooley
• Criminal Charges: Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• City and State: Valdosta, Georgia
• Date: February 19, 2025 (crime), April 23, 2025 (sentencing)
• Sentence: 212 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release

According to court documents, Tooley had a lengthy criminal history prior to the incident, including felony convictions for drug distribution in Cobb County and Lowndes County, Georgia. On February 19, 2025, Tooley fired shots inside the Mega Mart convenience store on North Lee Street in Valdosta. The Valdosta Police Department safely apprehended Tooley near East Jane Street.

Investigation and Prosecution

The Valdosta Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit prosecuted the case for the government.

U.S. Attorney William R. 'Will' Keyes stated, 'Convicted felons with guns who threaten public safety will be prosecuted federally and held accountable under the law.' The ATF Resident Agent in Charge, Robert Davis, added, 'This defendant's actions showed a complete disregard for human life—firing inside a business and endangering innocent bystanders.'

Valdosta Police Department Chief Leslie Manahan praised the collaboration between local, state, and federal partners in prosecuting the case, saying, 'This case is a great example of the importance of collaboration between local, state and federal partners.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/valdosta-repeat-offender-sentenced-prison-illegal-firearm-possession-after-firing