Christopher Edward Coleman, 33, of Austin was sentenced to 60 months in the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud for felony violent felon in possession of a firearm on Thursday in Mower County District Court. He received credit for 563 days served.

Charges of first-degree attempted murder-premeditated, second-degree attempted murder-with intent-not premeditated and second-degree assault-dangerous weapon, all felonies, were dismissed.

Judge Kevin Siefken issued the sentence.

Court documents state officers responded to a report of shots fired on Jan. 7, 2018, at the intersection of First Avenue and Second Street Southeast. Coleman, who lived at an apartment complex in the 100 block of Second Street Southeast, approached the officers and said his 2004 silver Chevy Monte Carlo was stolen and that the suspects fired shots at his residence. He told an officer that he ducked behind the kitchen cabinets during the shooting, but then said he chased a black male toward the post office.

Officers found four spent nine-millimeter bullet cartridges and broken glass from a vehicle window nearby. They set up a perimeter and began speaking to residents of the complex, some of whom said they heard the shots.

The stolen car was found, still running and unoccupied, in the 200 block of First Street Southeast. A witness told police that two black men exited the vehicle and ran from the scene. Three spent .22-caliber bullet cartridges were found inside the vehicle and the driver side rear window was smashed.  Police found two bullet holes in the car’s frame, prompting the suspicion that someone at the residence fired back at the thieves. The vehicle was then taken to the Mower County Law Enforcement Center garage.

Coleman gave police permission to search his residence, where police found a Springfield nine-millimeter handgun wrapped in a piece of carpet. The BCA Firearms Section later matched the four shell casings found outside Coleman’s residence with the Springfield nine-millimeter.

Coleman later informed the investigating detective that he had found out Elgin Tyrese Green of Austin was the individual who stole his vehicle. On Feb. 15, 2018, police arrested Green on a Minnesota DOC warrant. During the arrest, a .22-caliber pistol was found in his possession. The BCA Firearms Section later matched the three .22-caliber shell casings found inside Coleman’s vehicle to the pistol.

On May 11, 2018, Green pleaded guilty to a charge of violent felon in possession of a firearm and admitted to stealing Coleman’s vehicle. Green said that Coleman shot at him during the theft and bullets struck the vehicle.

A review of Coleman’s criminal record shows prior convictions for damage to property, terroristic threats, domestic assault and violating a no contact order.