A Montgomery man has been convicted of illegally possessing the ammunition he used during a shooting at a relative’s funeral that killed one person and injured three others.

Gerald Dyron Little, 41, was found guilty Wednesday in federal court, according to an announcement by Middle District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Little on June 26, 2021, attended a memorial service for his step-uncle, James Gipson, at the municipal complex in Fort Deposit.

During the service, Little caused a disruption and family members asked him to leave, which he did.

After the memorial service, family members and attendees gathered in a nearby cemetery for a graveside service.

Witnesses testified that Little was in the front passenger seat of a white SUV parked at the cemetery near the burial site. The windows of the SUV were down, and loud music was coming from the vehicle, disturbing the service.

Family members went to the vehicle and asked Little and the driver of the SUV to leave, as they were being disruptive. The two failed to do so and Little began arguing with the family members.

The driver then grabbed a handgun. Little took the handgun from the driver and then fired the weapon from the open window of the SUV.

Officers from the Fort Deposit Police Department were nearby and rushed to the scene after hearing the shots. However, Little fled before they arrived.

Four funeral attendees, including the brother of the deceased, were struck by bullets during the shooting. Jerry Lee Gipson, 47, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Investigators interviewed witnesses and soon identified Little as the shooter. Law enforcement also recovered four discharged shell casings from the scene.

Little was arrested on state charges on July 1, 2021. That same day, federal agents obtained a complaint and arrest warrant charging Little with being a felon in possession of ammunition.

The jury found that the shell casings recovered from the scene came from ammunition possessed by Little during the shooting.

Little had a previous felony conviction and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

He faces up to 10 years in federal prison with no parole.

The Fort Deposit Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with assistance from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen K. Moulton and Brandon W. Bates are prosecuting the case.

Little still faces charges of murder and attempted murder in state court. A trial date has not yet been set.