LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Los Angeles police officer was convicted Wednesday of second-degree murder for shooting a man to death during an argument outside a Pomona bar five years ago.
Henry Solis, 32, argued he acted in self-defense when he shot 23-year-old Salome Rodriguez Jr. while off duty in March 2015.
Prosecutors said Solis, who was a probationary LAPD officer with just four months on the force, picked a fight with Rodriguez and shot him four times.
On the witness stand, Solis contended he was trying to arrest Rodriguez after he was sexually assaulted earlier in a bar bathroom. However, no physical evidence of such an assault was presented in court, the Los Angeles Daily News reported.
After the shooting Solis fled to Mexico, where he was arrested and deported about 2 1/2 months later.
His father, Victor Solis, drove him out of state and claimed he dropped his son off at a Texas bus stop but surveillance video showed the two walking across the border into Mexico, authorities said. A jury later convicted Solis's father of lying to federal authorities.
Solis could face 40 years to life in prison when he is sentenced next month.
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