Eric Jerome Tooley, a resident of Hahira, Georgia, was sentenced on April 23 to more than 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentencing follows an incident in which Tooley fired a gun inside a Valdosta convenience store while customers were present.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement and federal prosecutors to address violent crime and enhance public safety in the region. "Convicted felons with guns who threaten public safety will be prosecuted federally and held accountable under the law," said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. "We are working alongside law enforcement at every level to protect our communities and ensure armed repeat offenders are brought to justice."
According to court documents, Tooley was apprehended by police after firing three shots inside the Mega Mart on North Lee Street on Feb. 19, 2025. Surveillance footage showed him pointing his pistol at the cashier before firing between two customers during an argument over a lighter. Police arrested him nearby without further incident.
"This defendant’s actions showed a complete disregard for human life—firing inside a business and endangering innocent bystanders," said ATF Resident Agent in Charge Robert Davis. "ATF will continue to work alongside the Valdosta Police Department and our law enforcement partners to ensure repeat violent offenders are removed from our communities and held fully accountable in federal court." Valdosta Police Chief Leslie Manahan said, "This case is a great example of the importance of collaboration between local, state and federal partners... We thank the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligence and leadership in prosecuting this violent offender and helping to protect our community."
The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia advances community wellness by promoting cooperation with law enforcement agencies according to its official website. The office maintains facilities in Macon, Albany, and Columbus according to its official website and serves approximately two million residents across seventy counties according to its official website. It is part of the United States Department of Justice according to its official website, covering central Georgia over an area of more than twenty-five thousand square miles according to its official website. The office prosecutes crimes such as drug trafficking, terrorism, violent offenses, and manages civil litigation for the government throughout central Georgia according to its official website.
Tooley's prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative that brings together resources from various Department of Justice programs aimed at combating violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit prosecuted this case.
