Minutes after uttering a tearful apology to his victim’s family, Stacy Lovell Johnson was sent to prison for three decades for the August 2004 slaying of the Suffolk man.

On Thursday, Suffolk Circuit Court Judge Carl Eason sentenced Johnson, 29, to 50 years for the first-degree murder of Rodney Faulk. Eason suspended 23 years of the sentence.

Johnson will also serve a mandatory three years for using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Johnson asked the courts for mercy, saying the shooting occurred during a moment of anger.

“I just want to say I’m sorry to his family,” Johnson said. “It happened so fast and … things got out of control.”

Johnson needs to be held accountable for his actions, said Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Will Jamerson.

“When people walk around armed, they have to understand the consequences of using the weapons,” he said. “… You have to pay for the crime.”

Eason agreed, adding that Johnson’s actions clearly demonstrate that he has a problem with anger management.

“What happened may have occurred during a split second of anger,” Eason said. “But your act irrevocably changed the life of the Faulk family.”

Johnson was arrested in September 2004 in Portsmouth, eluding police for several weeks after shooting Faulk in the 100 block of Halifax Street.