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Jan Jordan, Newser staff Published 9:35 a.m. ET Jan. 26, 2017 | Updated 12 hours ago

Demarlon Thomas, 31, was killed while transitioning out of prison in Saginaw, Mich., after having his sentence commuted by Obama. USA TODAY

Michigan State Police detectives measure tire tracks on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2017, near the scene of the shooting of Demarlon Thomas, 31, in Saginaw the previous evening.(Photo: Jeff Schrier, AP)

(NEWSER)A former gang member saw his prison sentence commuted by President Obama in November only to be killed almost exactly two months later.

Demarlon Thomas, 31, was transitioning out of the federal prison system in a Saginaw, Mich., halfway house after having his sentence commuted Nov. 22.

Two masked gunmen brandishing assault-style weapons sought out and killed Thomas, a former member of Saginaws Sunny Side Gang, at that halfway house Monday night, reportsMLive. "They were looking for this person," a Michigan State Police officer says, describing the shooting as execution-style.

One gunman shot Thomas numerous times, while the other held 23 others at gunpoint; ultimately, no one else was injured.

"I think it was connected one way or another to the gang he was from or a rival gang," the officer tellsMichigan Radio. The suspects are still at large.

Thomas had been sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2008 for distributing cocaine after a federal investigation that authorities thought had put an end to the Sunny Side Gang.

Thanks to Obama commuting his sentence, he had been scheduled to go free in March, about eight years earlier than his original release date.

"He was just happy to ... have a second chance at life," a friend of Thomas tellsMLive.

(This was far from the most high-profile sentencecommuted by Obama.)

This story originally appeared onNewser:

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Obama frees him and he is killed execution-style - USA TODAY