An ex-Los Angeles Police Department officer was convicted Wednesday in a 2015 off-duty murder case that took place in downtown Pomona, California. The ex-officer reportedly fled to Mexico after committing the crime and was arrested two months later.

The convict, 32-year-old Henry Solis, was found guilty of one count of second-degree murder. Solis had fatally shot 23-year-old Salome Rodriguez Jr. multiple times after an argument at a local bar in Pomona.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said Solis was awaiting his sentence. He may face 40 years in prison after the judgment on March 11. Solis reportedly had served in Iraq for the U.S. Army and spent about nine months with the Los Angeles Police Department before the incident occurred.

Bradley Brunon, Solis’ attorney, said he was not happy with the outcome of the judgment and stated, “Henry Solis is a good person. He spent years serving the country honorably.” He added that Solis would have made a terrific peace officer and that it was unfortunate that the event occurred and “derailed his plans”.

Brunon added, “We felt that the evidence didn’t warrant a murder conviction - perhaps manslaughter on a theory of provocation or imperfect self-defense.”

In court, Solis alleged that Rodriguez had attempted to sexually assault him on the night of the shooting but there was no evidence to support the claim.

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Representational image of a handcuff. Pixabay
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