A Dumfries man was sentenced to 60 years in prison yesterday for shooting his ex-girlfriend and the man she was with in Spotsylvania County last year.
The drive-by shooting occurred the morning of March 12 on Lansdowne Road near the border of Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg, according to the evidence.
Austin A. Thornton, 33, pleaded guilty last year to one count each of aggravated malicious wounding and malicious wounding. Circuit Judge John W. Scott Jr. sentenced Thornton yesterday in Spotsylvania Circuit Court.
Thornton's ex-girlfriend was driving down Lansdowne Road with an Arlington man in her passenger seat when Thornton drove up behind. She called 911; Spotsylvania prosecutor Matt Lowery played the recording of the call yesterday in court.
The Spotsylvania woman could be heard screaming on the tape as Thornton pulled beside the car and fired shots from a 9 mm pistol. She was shot in the left arm, and the bullet went through her arm and into her chest. A bullet grazed the top of the man's skull, leaving him with a gash.
The shooting victims then floored it into Fredericksburg, where they got help from city police and fire and rescue personnel. They were both taken to Mary Washington Hospital. The woman had to have surgery and has permanent scars. Thornton later called Fredericksburg police and turned himself in.
Thornton had previously been convicted of first-degree burglary in New York, Lowery said. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for that and was on parole when the Spotsylvania shooting occurred.
Thornton got 50 years for the aggravated malicious wounding of his ex-girlfriend, and 10 years for shooting the Arlington man.
People convicted of felonies in Virginia serve about 85 percent of their sentences if they behave while in prison. That means Thornton will likely serve about 50 years, in which time he would be 83.
He'll be eligible for geriatric release when he turns 60, but the Virginia Parole Board rarely grants these requests.
To reach BILL FREEHLING:
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com