COLUMBUS, OHIO ? A mentally ill man pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and 10 other charges Tuesday in a series of Ohio highway shootings and was sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Charles McCoy Jr., 29, had admitted firing the shots over five months in 2003 and 2004 but pleaded innocent by reason of insanity to murder and 23 other counts. His death penalty trial ended in a mistrial.

McCoy cried as he began to read a statement apologizing to victims, and his attorney took over. He also cried as victims told the judge how they had been affected by the shootings.

“I want to thank my family for their love and support, especially my mom,” the statement read. “I’m sorry for not taking my medication and putting you and everyone through this.”

McCoy, of Columbus, told psychiatrists that he threw wood and bags of concrete mix off highway overpasses and shot at cars to quiet voices in his head that called him a “wimp.”