MEADVILLE – A 54-year-old Roxie man has been sentenced to life behind bars after admitting in court to the killing of another man in Bude earlier this year.

James William Wallace pleaded guilty Monday to murder in the May 2, 2013, fatal shooting of 49-year-old Bruce Anthony Lofton of McCall Creek.

Sixth Circuit Judge Forrest Johnson sentenced Wallace to the mandatory life in prison, the Natchez Democrat reported. The judge said Wallace must serve a minimum of 15 years before he is eligible for early release.

Franklin County Sheriff James Newman said at the time of the shooting that Wallace shot Lofton with a small-caliber handgun at a service station at the intersection of Mississippi 154 and U.S. 98 at approximately 5:20 a.m. Lofton died on the scene.

At the time of the shooting, Newman said Christopher Allen Shell, 45, of Roxie was also shot by Wallace in the arm during the incident and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

According to Newman, in addition to the attendant on duty, there were a few customers in the store when the shooting occurred just inside the entrance of the building.