Robert Fitts faces a possible 20 years in jail after being convicted by a Dallas County jury Friday for first-degree assault.

Friday’s decision puts the final touches on a case that began in October 2008 when Fitts chased down Eldred Fuller in a road rage incident that ended at the Winn Dixie on Dallas Avenue and Fitts stabbing Fuller.

“This was a road rage case that almost led to the victim dying,” District Attorney Michael Jackson said. “People should be able to go to the grocery store without worrying about seeing someone get stabbed or shot.”

According to the original incident report, Fitts and Fuller reportedly got into an “altercation in the parking lot” at Winn Dixie.

Both men then entered the store where Fuller said he saw “him [Fitts] in the frozen food isle. Mr. Fuller stated that he made a remark about Mr. Fitts’ dog and kept walking. Mr. Fitts started following and bumping into Mr. Fuller. When Mr. Fuller turned around, Mr. Fitts stabbed him in the stomach with a knife.

“Mr. Fuller stated that he was trying to get the knife away from Mr. Fitts, and was hitting him in the face,” the report states. “There were several witnesses to this incident. The police and ambulance arrived, Mr. Fuller was transported to the hospital and Mr. Fitts was taken into custody.”

Following testimony, which began Wednesday, the jury deliberated for two and a half hours before handing down their guilty verdict in Circuit Court Judge Jack Meigs’ court.

According to Jackson, the stabbing at Winn Dixie, was a road rage-related attack that began far earlier.