From TV cop to convicted murderer, actor Michael Jace was found guilty today of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting death of wife April Jace.
Jace, who played a closeted gay LAPD officer on gritty FX drama “The Shield”;, was found guilty after less than three hours of deliberation before the jury rendered its verdict.
Related: “Shield’ Star Enters Not Guilty Plea In Murder Of His Wife
According to reports, Jace and his wife were engaged in a heated argument when he shot her in their Los Angeles-area home in front of the couple’s two young children.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the jury was presented with evidence that Jace shot his wife three times, with prosecutors arguing it was a premeditated attack. Jace’s lawyers, while admitting that he did kill his wife, contend that the murder was a crime of passion that should be punishable by a conviction of voluntary manslaughter.
Following the jury’s verdict, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office released the following statement:
A former actor was convicted today of gunning down his wife at their Los Angeles home in front of the couple’s two young sons, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
A jury of six women and six men deliberated about two hours before finding Michael Andrew Jace, 53, guilty of the second-degree murder of April Jace on May 19, 2014. Jurors also found true the special allegation that Jace personally used a firearm.
Deputy District Attorney Tannaz Mokayef with the Major Crimes Division prosecuted the case.
The actor, who portrayed a police officer in “The Shield,”; was upset his wife wanted a divorce and was obsessed with the belief that she was seeing someone else, Mokayef told jurors in opening statements. Jace waited in their home in the 5400 block of Brynhurst Avenue and when April came home around 8 p.m., he shot her once in the back, the prosecutor said.
Jace shot her two more times in the legs in front of their sons, who were 8 and 5 at the time.
The defendant then called 911 at about 8:30 p.m. and told the operator he shot his wife, according to evidence presented at trial. Her body was found inside the couple’s home along with their two children, who were unharmed.
Jace, who has remained in custody since his arrest, returns to Department 104 on June 10 for sentencing in case BA424932. He faces 40 years to life in state prison.
The Los Angeles Police Department investigated the case.
