UPDATE: Bristol, Tennessee awaiting murder trial gets 20 years in prison for second-degree murder of roommate

A Bristol, Tennessee man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday for the July 2017 shooting death of his roommate.

Johnny Royston, Jr., 39, had been indicted on one count of second-degree murder and was awaiting a trial scheduled for May 3.

Investigators testified that Royston fired two warning shots at Rowdy Yates, 44, on property located off Highway 421 and then shot him once in the head after the two had been arguing over possible stolen property.

Royston also received probation following the service of his sentence on various drug charges including a 2020 arrest for smuggling narcotics into the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville.

(IMAGE: ST 929 ARCHIVES)