A man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for opening fire during the Williams Lake Stampede two summers ago, forcing thousands of people to evacuate the grounds.
Less credit for time served prior to sentencing, Jordell Anthony Sellars has seven years and 10 days left to serve in the term issued Wednesday in Williams Lake provincial court for the July 3, 2022 incident.
The sentence came in the form of a joint submission by Crown and defence counsels and after Sellars pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of reckless discharge of a firearm - reduced from discharge with intent to wound - and possessing a loaded restricted firearm, B.C. Prosecution Service spokesperson Dan McLaughlin confirmed.
Sellars had also initially faced a count of attempted murder.
Wielding a nine-millimetre semi-automatic handgun, Sellars fired off at least two shots in the concession area striking one person in the rib and another in the foot, according to the Williams Lake Tribune.
The shooting was intended to be targeted but one bystander was a casualty. Both were taken to hospital and were expected to recover, police said at the time. Identified by nearby witnesses, Sellars was arrested at the grounds but the day was cut short as patrons were evacuated as a safety measure.
In a posting on social media, Williams Lake Stampede president Court Smith later commended the announcer for doing a "fantastic job of having people exit the facility."
Sellars, who has had a history of gun-and-gang-related crime, is among four men who continue to face a count of assault causing
