WATERTOWN (AP) -- A northern New York teenager has been convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting a 43-year-old man during a botched robbery.
A Jefferson County Court jury deliberated for about three hours Wednesday before finding 18-year-old Tyler Lewis guilty of murder and attempted robbery in the December 2009 slaying of Ronald Gowing.
Authorities say Lewis and another teen went to a Watertown apartment where Gowing was visiting his cousin, knocked on the door and demanded money. Police say when the cousin slammed the door, Lewis opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle, hitting Gowing in the heart.
The other defendant, 18-year-old Jireh Finney, was also charged with murder. His trial is scheduled to start next month.
Lewis faces 25 years to life in prison when he's sentenced Jan. 28.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
