GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Grand Rapids man was found guilty on two counts in the shooting death of 13-year-old Jamarion McCuller.
After eight hours of deliberation by the jury, Justin House was found guilty of 2nd degree murder and found guilty on a felony firearm charge.
House did not visibly react to the verdict being read, sitting in silence looking at the judge.
McCuller's family appeared to be visibly happy at the verdict, with one member of the family clapping as the guilty verdict was delivered by the judge.
Opening arguments in the case took place on Tuesday.
House claimed that he shot and killed Jamarion in self-defense, but the jury did not find that claim credible.
The shooting happened almost a year ago on 29th street near Woodland Mall.
On March 12, 2022, House found out that his father's car was stolen.
House armed himself with a pistol and tracked down the six suspects who had stolen the car.
When House found his father's car, the suspects got out and House allegedly chased them on foot. The prosecution argued that he fired at the suspects while they were running away.
Jamarion was killed by a single bullet that struck him in the back.
The state argued that House took matters into his own hands when he discovered that his father's car was stolen, instead of calling police. They also argued that he distanced himself after shooting before he eventually turned himself in about a month after he was charged in the killing.
House had been detained by police directly after the shooting, but was released from custody on Monday, March 14, per the request of Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker.
It wasn't until the morning of April 20, 2022 that House turned himself in to police alongside his attorney.
James King, House's attorney, did not comment about the guilty verdict.
House will be sentenced on April 13 at 1:30 p.m.
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