Convicted gunman sentenced to 61 years for attempted murder

JACKSON, Tenn. — A man convicted of shooting his ex-girlfriend and leaving her in critical condition learned his fate Monday morning in a Jackson courtroom.

Michael Stitts was handed a sentence of 61 years for shooting Mary Greer.

Stitts was found guilty on four counts by a Madison County jury on Sept. 19.

The counts include attempted murder, aggravated burglary, employing a weapon during a dangerous felony and felon in possession of a firearm.

Judge Roy Morgan described Stitts as dangerous.

“The defendant is a dangerous offender whose behavior indicates little or no regard for human life, no hesitation about committing a crime,” he said.

Police say Stitts forced entry into his ex-girlfriend Mary Greer’s home in April 2015 and then shot her.

State attorneys say if the police hadn’t arrived earlier, she would have died.

Greer’s son, Montell Cobb, told the courtroom Monday that Stitts recently tried to contact the family.

“I was helping her put on her clothes that evening, and I had to answer the phone because she can’t answer it herself, and it said you have a collect call from Micheal Stitts,” he said.

The family says they are happy to finally receive justice.

Attorneys say this is not the first time Stitts has been in trouble with the law and that he has an extensive criminal background of domestic violence.