Hourly Update

Man, 19, convicted of first-degree murder

A teenager accused of killing a Tucson man because he felt his toddler son had been insulted was convicted of first-degree murder and multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon Monday. Jermayne Dwight Gainous, 19, could receive life with or without the possibility of parole, plus up to an additional 45 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Howard Fell in Pima County Superior Court Oct. 20. Prosecutor Mark Diebolt told jurors that on Sept. 17, 2005, Shane Sirois was walking with two friends in the 1800 block of North Oracle Road when they came into contact with Gainous' mother, girlfriend, young son and a 10-year-old girl. The two groups began arguing and racial slurs were made, as were comments about the baby and girl. During the confrontation, Gainous' mother called her house two blocks away and asked for a ride. Diebolt said that when Gainous arrived, he threatened Sirois and his friends with a gun and after dropping off his relatives he came back and shot Sirois, 25, in the back. The bullet entered Sirois’ heart, killing him. During opening arguments last week, Gainous' attorney, Jack Lansdale Jr., told jurors four people swear Gainous was at home at the time of the shooting and a fifth person claims a cousin of Gainous’ girlfriend confessed to the slaying. Sirois was killed just hours after participating in a car wash to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina, Diebolt said.