ROUND ROCK -- A jury on Thursday found Kendrick Newman guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of John Ammon, 43, outside a Round Rock convenience store on the night of Feb. 8, 2017. The jury deliberated for about 2½ hours before reaching a verdict.

Newman faces up to 99 years in prison. The sentencing phase of the trial begins Friday morning.

During closing arguments Thursday, defense attorneys said Newman acted in self-defense because he was scared of Ammon during an argument that began in a Wag-A-Bag store on Sunrise Road and Old Settlers Boulevard.

Prosecutors said the argument was a fistfight, that Newman had no reason to fear for his life and could have left the scene without pulling out a gun and shooting Ammon 11 times.

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Assistant District Attorney Danny Smith told jurors during closing arguments that the claim that Newman acted in self-defense was ridiculous. All the witnesses said they just thought the two men were having a fistfight, he said.

"What evidence is there in this case that Ammon did anything more than shove and throw a few punches?" Smith said. "He didn't get Newman on the ground and start pummeling or kicking him. How does a shove and a punch justify unloading 11 rounds into someone as they are running away?"

Newman also gave Ammon a deliberate kick after he repeatedly shot him, Smith said. "This is not something that someone who felt they were in danger would do. ... I'm not saying John is innocent. This was a stupid fight over a place in line, and he shouldn't have gotten as upset as he did when he threw the water. But is that really a justification for losing his life?"

Defense Attorney Robert McCabe said during closing arguments that Ammon was drunk when Newman walked into the store to buy a bottle of water. Ammon, who was standing in line to buy a beer, asked Newman if he felt like fighting when Newman put his water bottle on the front counter, McCabe said. A witness told the court that when Ammon threw Newman's bottle of water across the store, Newman looked shocked. Newman left the store backing out the front door but Ammon charged after him, even after a clerk asked Ammon to stay inside.

It only took Newman three seconds to fire 11 shots after Ammon pushed him on the hood of a car, McCabe said. "He took reasonable steps to get away from the situation and when he wasn't able to, he acted out of necessity and self-preservation."

Defense attorney Lytza Rojas said a witness, Margaret Aleman, testified that she saw Newman put his hands up before Ammon pushed him onto the hood of Aleman's car.

But prosecutors argued a store video shows Newman dropped his backpack and rolled up his sleeves after walking out of the store.

"That's consenting for a fight," prosecutor Jamie Felicia said. And after Newman was pushed onto the hood of the car, he stood up and ran after Ammon, firing at him. “That’s not what you do when you’re in fear. It's what you do when you’re angry.”

“You can only justify self-defense when you’re in fear of serious bodily injury or death,” she said.