An Apple Valley man was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for fatally shooting a man who chased after him last August.

Ibrahim M. Abdullahi, 27, pleaded guilty in February in Ramsey County District Court to shooting Jeffery Earl Willingham, 24, shortly before 11 p.m. on Aug. 5. Willingham died the next day.

Abdullahi pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to five years in prison for each count, to run concurrently.

Abdullahi was originally charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was reduced in his plea deal.

Abdullahi testified at his plea hearing that his car broke down near a park. He walked up to a group of men to ask for help, but turned away when he didn't recognize anyone. Abdullahi said the group then chased after him and were "totally fired up." He admitted that he fired a shot in the air, which prompted the men to laugh and mock him.

Abdullahi testified in February that he eventually shot at the men as he grew tired of running, and he was fearful that they would overtake and harm him.

CHAO XIONG