- Thomas Long was given 11 concurrent prison sentences after being found guilty of firing shots following a road rage confrontation.
- He was found not guilty of murdering the other driver, 50-year-old Jose Ramirez, by a jury in January.
- Long claimed self-defense after shooting Jose Ramirez, who charges say was unarmed.
SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man who was found not guilty of murder in a jury trial earlier this year will still spend at least five years in prison for firing 11 shots during a road rage confrontation.
Thomas Jim Long, 46, was sentenced on March 3 by 3rd District Judge Kara Pettit to two terms of five years to life in prison for felony discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony, and nine terms of three to five years in prison for felony discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.
Pettit said Long could serve the sentences concurrently and gave him credit for the year and five months he had already served.
Long's trial began on Jan. 8, and prosecutors rested at 1:37 p.m. that day. Long testified, along with multiple other witnesses called by his attorneys. The jury deliberated for about seven hours on Jan. 9.
When he was arrested, Long claimed he acted in self-defense.
Long forced Jose Ramirez, 50, off the road before shooting his vehicle 15 times, killing Ramirez, who was still wearing his seat belt, on Oct. 7, 2024, according to charging documents. The incident happened on state Route 201 in West Valley City.
The charges cited a camera from a witness showing Ramirez merging across two lanes of traffic in front of Long, and Long speeding past him, pulling in front of him and braking. After that, it showed Long continued brake-checking Ramirez, and Ramirez swerved into Long's vehicle before both men crashed into a concrete barrier at 1000 West.
Long called 911 after the crash and told dispatchers his life was threatened. He told them Ramirez had pulled something from his waistband so he shot him.
"Dispatch replied, 'You shot him?' Long replies, 'Well this (guy) was threatening my life, he was telling me he was gonna kill me.' Dispatch said, 'I understand that but I need to know where did you shoot him?' Long said, 'I don't remember,'" according to the charges.
An autopsy report showed Ramirez was shot eight times, each from no more than 3 feet away. No weapons were found in his vehicle.
