Remember the murder last year in Long Beach of off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Maria Cecilia Rosa? She was apparently surprised by two guys on a morning crime spree while getting in her car to drive to work. Justin Flint, a 21-year-old drug addict, was convicted of first-degree murder today in Long Beach Superior Court. Frank Gonzalez, the suspected shooter, is awaiting trial. From the Press-Telegram website:

In the hallway later, jurors mingled with deputies, exchanging handshakes, hugs and words of gratitude.

"This was an incredible responsibility," said Juror No. 11, a 56-year-old Long Beach man, with tears in his eyes. "And I think we took it right in our hearts."

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Jurors found a special gun allegation to be true but rejected the special circumstance of murder during the commission of an attempted robbery, which carries an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Flint could get 27 years in prison at his Dec. 20 sentencing.

Previously:
Honoring Deputy Maria Rosa