After only 2½ hours Thursday, jurors found Ringgold man Lance Rockholt guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Rockholt was sentenced for fatally shooting Cloudland resident Mark A. Pickett after what police called a bout of road rage.

Family members broke out in tears after hearing the word “guilty” ring out after each of the six counts. In addition to murder, Rockholt was found guilty of two counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated as-sault, one count of possession of a firearm by a con-victed felon, and one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

The murder charge was merged with four other charges and carries a mandatory life sentence, Connelly said. The charge of possession of a firearm during the com-mission of a crime carries a mandatory consecutive five-year sentence without parole.

Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney

Herbert “Buzz” Franklin was pleased with the verdict.

“I think the jurors looked at the evidence impartially and came to what I think was the only conclusion they could come to and I certainly appreciate their service,”

Franklin said. “We’re just very happy and pleased,” was all one family member would say after hearing the verdict.

Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Public Defender David Dunn told Superior Court Judge Kristina Connelly he would talk with his clients about the possibility of appeal, which must be filed within 30 days