Richmond man sentenced to nearly a decade in prison after firing rifle near Fairfield Court playground

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond man was sentenced to nearly a decade in prison after he, a previously convicted felon, fired a rifle near a playground in the city's Fairfield Court neighborhood.

On Thursday, Dec. 5, 39-year-old Bobby Nathaniel Scott was sentenced to nine years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Per court documents, on Feb. 11, officers with the Richmond Police Department heard two gunshots near a Fairfield Court neighborhood playground. They also saw two people running away from the area, whom the officers began to chase on foot.

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One of the two people, later identified as Scott, tripped and fell near a set of trashcans, dropping a rifle as he did so. According to the DOJ, Scott was detained and the rifle -- which was loaded with a 20-round magazine -- was recovered by police.

Scott had ten prior felony convictions at the time of this latest offense, including domestic assault, grand theft auto, eluding the police and multiple drug-related charges. As a previously convicted felon, Scott cannot legally possess a gun or ammunition.

Additionally, Scott was on active probation at the time of his arrest. He faces charges out of Prince George County for robbery, strangulation and malicious wounding.