A Lunenburg County man has been sentenced to serve 10 years in prison on two felonies related to firing a handgun at his older cousin.

Shaheed Khalil Williams, 25, of Rehoboth Road in Victoria, was recently sentenced in Lunenburg Circuit Court on convictions of attempted malicious wounding and possession of firearm by a felon. Williams received an additional five years, but it was suspended subject to numerous conditions.

The incident occurred in the house where they resided with the aunt and uncle who raised them. No one was injured.

The incident began about 7 p.m. on May 10 when Terence Garnes argued with Williams for abusing a girlfriend, Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Clement said in a statement about the conviction.

The argument escalated into a physical fight in which Garnes dominated Williams.

When allowed to get up, Williams went to his room and got his handgun, Clement said. Garnes then wrestled the gun away from him and it fell to the floor.

“Williams’ aunt picked it up, but Williams grabbed it away from her and chased Garnes down a hallway,” Clement said. “Garnes said he heard the gun misfire twice, and he ducked into his bedroom closet. Williams entered the bedroom and shot at least twice. It was also alleged that he shot from the outside through a window.”

A bullet that had apparently passed through the closet door was recovered from the bedroom by Deputy Sheriff Adam Martin, Clement said. There was a second hole in the closet door.

Garnes said his two young children — ages 2 and 3 — were in the room, and his wife, aunt and uncle were also in the house at the time of the incident, Clement said.

Williams fled the scene and was not found until about five weeks later when he was arrested. The gun was never recovered.

At the sentencing hearing, Clement noted, Williams’ aunt testified on his behalf, describing how Garnes had “overcome Williams” in the fight, and stating how Williams helped them around the house.

Clement noted that Williams’ past criminal record includes two felonies as a juvenile, a sex offense conviction when 17 years old and tried as an adult and felony convictions in 2009 for distribution of cocaine. He said that his record called for an extensive sentence to protect the citizens of the county from his criminal behavior.

The judge imposed 10 years on the attempted malicious wounding with two years suspended, and five years on the possession of a firearm by a felon with three years suspended.

Williams will also be subject to conditions of good behavior for 20 years, supervised probation for five years upon his release, as well as warrantless searches for five years.