PITTSBURGH — A man has been found guilty of third-degree murder in the shooting death of a man in Carrick in February.
Investigators said Derek Vasos shot and killed Donald Ketter Jr. outside Lit, a Carrick members-only club.
Investigators said Ketter had gotten into an altercation with Vasos prior to the shooting.
Vasos testified Friday that he fired from the front seat of an Uber in self-defense.
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The jury deliberated for just under four hours.
Donald Ketter Sr. said he was pleased at the outcome. "Murder first degree is what we wanted, but I'll respect the system, they gave us third degree, so I appreciate what the jury did.
Vasos family members and fam of vic Donald Ketter, Jr left courtroom crying#wpxi pic.twitter.com/6izOr8fr4V
— renee wallace (@WPXIrenee) October 30, 2017
"It was not easy being that close to the man who killed my son in cold blood," Ketter's father said.
The jury reached its verdict despite his lawyer's argument that Vasos, who has no criminal history, shot and killed Ketter from the passenger seat of an Uber because he feared for his life.
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"We believed up to this point it was self-defense, it was justifiable in his actions, but the jury felt differently," defense attorney Phil DiLucente said.
Vasos, who testified in his own defense, cried quietly when the guilty verdict was read.
Vasos faces the next 20 to 40 years in prison. After they left the courtroom, his family could be heard crying uncontrollably in the hallway.
But for the Ketter family members, who shared hugs and quite a few tears, this was justice.
Cox Media Group
