A former cop who once shot two people dead in the line of duty was found guilty of murder after killing his next door neighbor after years of fighting over loud music, garbage, and dog poop.
Police officer turned NASA executive Michael Hetle, 54, shot Maryland National Guardsman Javon Prather, 24, in Springfield, Virginia - a suburb of Washington DC, in March 2020.
A jury deliberated in a Fairfax County court room from 10 am to 4:30 pm on Thursday to find him guilty of first-degree murder.
Hetle could face up to life in prison when he is sentenced on January 28.
He tried to argue that he fired the shots in self-defense to protect his family claiming that Prather threated him for months before the the deadly encounter.
But the jury did not believe Hetle's defense after video footage of the violent attack was shown as evidence.
Michael Hetle, 54, was found guilty of first-degree murder for fatally shooting his neighbor Javon Prather, 24
Hetle's Ring camera recorded the deadly shooting that occurred in a Virginia neighborhood (Pictured: Prather is seen knocking on Hetle's front door following an earlier argument)
Hetle and Prather fueded for three years before things turned deadly on March 4, 2020 (Pictured: Hetle fired seven shots in six seconds killing Prather)
Hetle claimed that Prather was killed in self-defense but the jury did not agree (Pictured: Hetle pointed his gun and threatened Prather's wife Janelle when she tried to check on her husband)
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Fairfax County prosecutor Joe Martin shared in court that Hetle sent an email to the neighborhood association warning that his feud with Prather could 'result in tragedy.'
On March 4, 2020, Hetle fired seven shots in six seconds murdering his neighbor with whom he shares a wall as nearby residents and the victim's wife watched in shock.
Prosecutors said that Hetle was upset that the homeowners association and police had not done more to act on his complaints about Prather.
Video footage recorded on Hetle's Ring doorbell camera captured the deadly encounter.
Prather is seen knocking on Hetle's front door. Hetle claimed that Prather knocked on the door so violently that the door was forced open.
'It was this look of pure rage,' Hetle said in court when describing Prather's face before he opened fire. 'His eyes were wide and bloodshot.'
The former police officer is then seen coming outside
