An Atlantic City man who fired shots that disrupted an outdoor middle school graduation was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday.
Azir Abdullah, now 21, has been out of jail since pleading guilty Jan. 27. At that time, he admitted to shooting at another vehicle during the altercation June 19, 2020, that started near Sovereign and Arctic avenues.
The shooting disrupted the graduation ceremony at Sovereign Avenue School that morning.
Video a parent provided to BreakingAC captured the sound of 17 gunshots.
“I hope they’re firecrackers,” one person is heard saying.
Several seconds later someone says, “Those were gunshots.”
Abdullah must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence under the No Early Release Act. He could have faced 20 years, but the plea agreement allowed him to be sentenced to a lesser degree.
He also was sentenced to four years for third-degree escape, related to when he cut off his ankle bracelet in a drug case when he was 19. He also got a four-year sentenced for the drug case.
Those terms will not add any time to Abdullah's sentence, since they are to be served concurrently.
He was taken into custody after his sentencing.
