A man from Hahira, Georgia, with a history of felony convictions has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm after firing shots inside a Valdosta convenience store. Eric Jerome Tooley, 46, entered his plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on January 22. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison as an armed career criminal, along with five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Federal law does not allow parole.
“Armed repeat offenders found endangering people’s safety will find their cases prosecuted at the federal level, where there is no parole,” said U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes. “I commend the bravery displayed by the responding Valdosta Police Department officers and their work to safely apprehend the defendant. We are grateful for the continued partnership with law enforcement at every level to keep people safe.”
“This defendant’s actions showed a complete disregard for human life—firing inside a business and endangering innocent bystanders,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “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.”
“This case is a great example of the importance of collaboration between local, state and federal partners,” said Valdosta Police Department Chief Leslie Manahan. “We thank the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligence and leadership in prosecuting this violent offender and helping to protect our community.”
Court documents indicate that on February 19, 2025, an officer from the Valdosta Police Department heard gunshots coming from Mega Mart on North Lee Street while on patrol. The officer saw Tooley heading toward another grocery store as he arrived at the scene; another witness reported three shots fired inside Mega Mart. Officers apprehended Tooley near East Jane Street without incident.
Video surveillance from Mega Mart showed Tooley becoming upset with the cashier over a lighter, pointing his pistol at the clerk, then turning and firing between two customers standing in line. Tooley has previous felony drug distribution convictions in Cobb County and Lowndes County Superior Courts, making it illegal for him to possess firearms.
The investigation was conducted by the Valdosta Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at fighting illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts involving programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
