GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Kentwood man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for killing a man in Alpine Township.

Marquis Thomas, 35, got life in prison with no possibility of parole for the felony murder of 35-year-old Michael Wright at York Creek Apartments in late 2021. For being a felon in possession of a firearm, he received 45 to 75 years. These two sentences will run concurrently.

Thomas will serve an additional five years for a weapons charge with credit for 535 days served. He must also pay fines and fees. Since Thomas had over four prior felonies on his record, convictions carried higher maximum sentences.

A jury recently convicted Thomas. On Thursday, Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock blasted Thomas’s actions, saying he has a long history of violence that began when he was just nine years old.

“You, sir, are an extremely dangerous individual,” Trusock said at sentencing. “You are a threat to the community. You are an extremely violent person and quite frankly, you should never be allowed out in a free society.”

Thomas was silent as he learned he would spend the rest of his life in prison. He nodded to someone in the crowd as he was escorted out.

On Dec. 1, 2021, Wright was found shot in a car at the Alpine Township apartment complex. Thomas, then 33, was arrested and charged days later.

Investigators said that Wright and Thomas were good friends. At Thursday’s sentencing, Trusock said that Wright and Thomas were involved in dealing drugs and had been in the car together all day. Trusock said evidence indicated there was initially a bag of money in the car, but after Thomas shot Wright, it was gone.