SAN ANTONIO – A jury on Monday found a door-to-door home security systems salesman guilty of fatally shooting a prospective customer.
Jurors deliberated for five hours before returning a guilty verdict against Richard Amezquita, 35.
Amezquita could face life in prison for the murder charge.
During closing arguments in the murder trial, the defense insisted that Amezquita had no choice but to fire his weapon in self-defense.
"You have a right to protect yourself from what you believe could be harmful or deadly," defense attorney Ed Bartolomei told the jury.
Amezquita shot Kerry O'Toole, 53, after he said O'Toole attacked him and threw rocks at him and his car.
The defendant had approached O'Toole's front door the evening of Nov. 7, 2015, selling home security systems. The door was clearly marked with signs discouraging salesmen and solicitors.
Prosecutors said that the two men argued, and Amezquita retreated to his car and pulled a gun and shot O'Toole as the victim tried to run inside his home.
Bartolomei argued that Amezquita fired from inside his car and called 911.
"Of course he called 911, because that's how you get your story out," prosecutor Kimberly Gonzalez said. "That's how you get away with murder, by saying, 'Yes, I was assaulted and I feared for my life.'"
The punishment phase of the trial begins Tuesday morning in the 186th District Court with Judge Jefferson Moore presiding.
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