Coweta Man Sentenced to 53 Years for Attempted Murder

A Coweta County jury convicted 49-year-old Sylvester Florence Jr. of attempted murder and five other charges Wednesday after prosecutors said he shot a plant manager three times at a Newnan manufacturing facility in 2023.

Coweta County Superior Court Judge Emory Palmer sentenced Florence to 53 years in prison without the possibility of parole. According to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, Florence’s eight prior felony convictions triggered Georgia’s recidivist statute.

The jury found Florence guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The charges stemmed from a July 6, 2023, shooting at Global Powertrain Systems in Newnan.

According to evidence presented at trial, Florence entered the plant manager’s office carrying a .32-caliber revolver and fired several shots. The plant manager was struck three times — in the neck, abdomen, and hip.

Despite his injuries, the victim fought back and escaped to another office, where coworkers provided first aid.

A plant manager identified Florence as the shooter during a 911 call, prompting an active-shooter response at the facility. The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team secured the building and conducted a controlled evacuation while investigators interviewed dozens of employees.

Surveillance video showed Florence leaving the office and walking away before driving from the facility on a pink motorcycle, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Newnan Police Department officers arrested Florence a short time later during a traffic stop. Officers recovered the revolver used in the shooting, more than two grams of methamphetamine, and a glass smoking pipe, prosecutors said.

Investigators later interviewed Florence. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Florence confessed to shooting the victim and said he had been trying to kill him while under the influence of methamphetamine.

Assistant District Attorney Scott Teague prosecuted the case. Jason Brooks, who worked for the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office at the time, served as lead investigator.

District Attorney Herb Cranford said Florence had been arrested 42 times as an adult and had eight previous felony convictions.

“Thank God this victim survived this shooting and that Florence will never leave prison again,” Cranford wrote in a statement announcing the conviction.

Florence was convicted August 26 and will serve the 53-year sentence without parole.