Cartersville Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Shooting at Officer and Possessing Stolen Firearm

Jose Rivera, 46, of Cartersville, Georgia, has been sentenced to 18 years and four months in federal prison for possession of a stolen firearm, discharging the weapon at a Cartersville police officer, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II also ordered Rivera to serve three years of supervised release following his sentence and to pay $300 in restitution. Rivera pleaded guilty to the charges on April 26, 2024.

The incident occurred on November 17, 2022, when Rivera threw a cinderblock through the front door of a Cartersville store, stole a 9mm pistol, and later brandished the weapon at customers in a nearby Circle K. After firing the gun inside the store, Rivera fled behind the building. A Cartersville police officer who responded to the scene pursued Rivera, who fired at the officer. The officer returned fire, striking Rivera in the leg and foot, leading to his arrest and subsequent medical treatment. Investigators later confirmed that Rivera was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.

“Rivera’s reckless criminal behavior placed the citizens of Cartersville at serious risk,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. Senior Supervisory Resident Agent Mitchell Jackson of FBI Atlanta’s Cartersville Office also commented, denouncing Rivera’s actions as part of a troubling trend of attacks on law enforcement. Chris Hosey, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, reiterated the agency’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for endangering the safety of Georgia communities.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.