Man convicted of murder in shooting of unarmed black man
Chad Copley
News outlets report that the jury spent less than two hours deliberating before finding  Chad Copley  guilty of premeditated murder in the death of 20-year-old Kouren-Rodney Thomas  who was attending a party near Copley's home.
Prosecutors had said  Copley  appeared bent on violence when  he  told 911 operators  he  was "locked and loaded" to confront people  he  described as armed "hoodlums" and launched a "surprise attack."
Defense attorneys acknowledged  Copley  fired the fatal shotgun blast  but said  he  feared for  his  safety and was covered by the state's Castle doctrine.
 Copley 's sentencing hearing is set for Friday.
News outlets report that the jury spent less than two hours deliberating before finding   [TGT] guilty of premeditated murder in the death of 20-year-old Kouren-Rodney Thomas  who was attending a party near Copley's home.
Prosecutors had said   [TGT] appeared bent on violence when   [TGT]   told 911 operators   [TGT]   was "locked and loaded" to confront people   [TGT]   described as armed "hoodlums" and launched a "surprise attack."
Defense attorneys acknowledged   [TGT] fired the fatal shotgun blast  but said  he  feared for  his  safety and was covered by the state's Castle doctrine.
  [TGT]  's sentencing hearing is set for Friday.