SYRACUSE -- A man accused of murder has been acquitted by a jury.
Jeffrey Peterson, 39, of Syracuse, was charged with murder in the shooting death of 33-year-old Shaheen Bean last summer. Peterson was acquitted on a "defense of justification."
Peterson originally told investigators and his wife returned to their Syracuse home and were confronted by Bean. Peterson and Bean struggled for control of the gun and it went off.
The police investigation and the medical examiner's report said Bean's wounds did not match Peterson's account. Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick said bean was shot in the back of the head while he was on the ground, like an execution.
In Onondaga County Court Tuesday, the judge told the jury that in order to convict Peterson, they must determine he was not justified in shooting Bean. The jury deliberated for about two hours before finding Peterson not guilty.
