Greenville, MS— Lonnie Nalls was sentenced to life in prison following his convictions by a Washington County jury earlier this month for Attempted Murder and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm District Attorney W. Dewayne Richardson announced today. Following testimony presented by the District Attorney’s Office that showed that Nalls was a violent habitual criminal pursuant to state law, Judge Ashley Hines imposed the life sentence.
Prior to being convicted at trial for Attempted Murder and being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Nalls had been previously convicted by the District Attorney’s Office for the crimes of Robbery, Burglary of a Dwelling, and drug offenses. Nalls was also previously convicted in federal court for various gun offenses.
Under the law in Mississippi, if a convicted person is a violent habitual criminal and has served more than a year in custody for their previous crimes, the sentence that must be life imprisonment.
Earlier this month Nalls was convicted of Attempted Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Convcicted Felon following a shooting in February of 2018 on Eureka Street in Greenville. The shooting left the victim permanently paralyzed after bullets damaged his spine. The testimony at trial was that Nalls and Lamarcus Ware drove by shooting at the victim with a rifle and a pistol and the bullets entered into an unoccupied house as well. Ware previously pled guilty to his involvement in this crime and is also serving time within the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
The case was prosecuted by John L. Herzog Jr. and M. Austin Frye. Herzog said “Two lives were forever changed in February of 2018 in Greenville. The victim will have to live with the consequences of Nalls’s actions for the rest of his life and Nalls will have to live with his consequences as well.”
District Attorney Richardson said further, “Those who choose to lead a life of violent crime can and will face the ultimate punishment. It is a shame that Nalls did not change his violent ways. Lonnie Nalls has had more than 10 felony arrests during his lifetime of crime.” This case was investigated by the Greenville Police Department and we appreciate their diligent efforts.