WARREN, Ohio - A Howland man has been sentenced to 39-to-40 years in prison for a shooting at the University of Larchmont Tavern in Warren and the robbery of the True North gas station.

Twenty-seven-year-old Ryan Rulong was found guilty earlier this week of attempted murder and felonious assault after the jury deliberated for a little less than an hour.

Victims submitted written statements to Judge Ronald Rice before sentencing on Friday.

Police say that Rulong was connected to both crimes after they pulled him over after the True North robbery. Police recognized Rulong's Ford F150 truck and connected it to the University of Larchmont Tavern shooting. 

Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel said during a press conference that Rulong was leaving the bar when he went to an enclosed patio area.

Rulong tried to climb over the fence, and there was some confrontation between the suspect and two men who were outside the bar, Merkel said. 

Merkel continued saying that Rulong left the bar and later returned with the intent to harm those two men and is accused of opening fire on the patio area. 

Three Warren men, ages 67, 42, and 56, were taken to local hospitals for treatment for minor injuries and released.

Merkel added that the University at Larchmont is not the typical place for an incident like this to happen and stressed it's a family business. 

After the University at Larchmont shooting Warren police were tipped that a suspect in a white Ford 150 who was arrested on Route 11 after holding up the True North gas station on East Market Street.

Warren police sent over a detective to interview the suspect, later identified as Rulong, where Merkel says Rulong confessed to the Larchmont shooting and gave evidence that he had turned over to the detective.