A man who has served three stints in prison since 2005 is heading back behind bars after being convicted of shooting an Atlanta father during a robbery, authorities said.
Demario Franchot Thornton recently pleaded guilty to armed robbery, participation in criminal street gang activity and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the June 2017 incident, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office said.
He was sentenced to 25 years in prison followed by 15 years on probation.
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Thornton was arrested about six months after the incident that left Jerrod Dumas seriously injured, Channel 2 Action News reported. Dumas was hit by five bullets, including one in the neck and another that caused severe nerve damage to his arm.
The father of two was visiting a friend June 20 at an apartment complex off Huff Road. While he was at the complex's call box, Thornton arrived, pulled out a gun and told Dumas "don't move" as he stole his watch and several other items, Channel 2 reported at the time.
Then Dumas was shot from behind as Thornton fled.
Credit: GoFundMe
Credit: GoFundMe
“I knew I was badly injured because of the blood,” the father told Channel 2 a month after the incident. “It was like every time I was breathing, there was blood squirting out of my neck.”
The thief didn’t steal Dumas’ car keys, so he was able to drive and flag down a police officer along Northside Drive near 17th Street, he told the news station.
“Usually the robber takes your phone, your keys, all of that,” he said. “Just the fact if he would have done that, I would have probably died because there was no one in sight.”
Dumas required multiple surgeries in addition to rigorous physical therapy for his arm and vocal cords. A GoFundMe page for his medical bills raised $4,710 before being deactivated.
Before the incident, Thornton had spent more than two years behind bars after being convicted of several crimes in Douglas and Fulton counties, according to Georgia Department of Corrections records.
His prior convictions included mutiny in a penal institution, entering vehicles and aggravated assault charges.
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