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Rodney Jones, left, speaks with his attorney during a Dec. 19 sentencing hearing in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Jones was acquitted of murder in the 2012 death of Durrell Davis and was sentenced to three years probation for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

(Everton Bailey Jr./The Oregonian)

A Portland man successfully argued this week that he shot another man twice in the head in self-defense outside a Northeast Portland bar during an altercation over a woman in 2012.

A Multnomah County jury acquitted Rodney Jones of murder in the death of Durell G. Davis, 40, near the Top of the Hill Tavern on Oct. 15, 2012. Davis was found dead in the street along Northeast 92nd Place near the bar. Jones was arrested two months later and has remained in jail for about two years.

The jury convicted Jones on Wednesday of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At his sentencing hearing Friday, supporters clapped as Multnomah County Circuit Judge Jerry Hodson gave Jones three years of probation.

Jones is scheduled to be released Friday. He had been facing a minimum of 25 years in prison on the murder charge.

Jones, 37, had few words when given the opportunity by the judge to speak before his sentencing.

"I just thank everybody," he said.

Both Jones and Davis were in a relationship with the same woman, said Jones' attorney, John Gutbezahl.

The woman lived near the bar and told investigators that Davis had arrived at her apartment drunk and angry and attacked her on the night of the shooting, according to court documents. He left when she threatened to call police, the records said.

Durell G. Davis

As Davis was leaving the area, he ran into Jones who was heading to the woman's home. Davis knew of Jones and his relationship with the woman, but Jones didn't know about Davis, Gutbezahl said.

Surveillance video from the tavern shows Davis and Jones walking past each other, then Davis turning and speaking to Jones before raising his arms in the direction of Jones, the court records said.

The camera shows Jones backing away while reaching toward a back pocket as Davis confronts him, but then both men go out of view of the video camera before the camera catches Jones running away, the court records said.

As Davis pursued Jones, Jones fired two warning shots, then shot Davis twice in the head, Gutbezahl said. Jones thought Davis may have had a knife and was afraid for his life, the lawyer said.

"The jury found it was reasonable that Mr. Jones used deadly physical force under the circumstances," he said.

Davis died at the scene. Jones got rid of the gun and fled, the court documents said. The gun's barrel had been shortened and the hammer and serial numbers had been filed off, according to the records.

When police interviewed Jones about Davis' death, he gave several different versions of events, including saying he didn't shoot anyone and that he never had a gun, investigators said. Jones later admitted to killing Davis because Davis was threatening him.

Gutbezahl said Jones initially didn't tell the truth because of a past criminal convictions in Louisiana, including a 1995 accessory after the fact to a felony armed robbery, and because he mistrusts police.

Jones was arrested Jan. 24, 2013, and held in the Multnomah County Detention Center on the firearms allegation and was later charged in Davis' death.

The judge told Jones that he needs to "figure out how to change the direction of your life."

Along with being a convicted felon, Jones has a history of alcohol and drug use as well as hanging out with people who may encourage illegal activity, Hodson said. Also, the gun Jones used in the shooting, Hodson added, was modified with an apparent intent to be used in a crime.

"That's one very risky behavior you engaged in that I hope having had to sit in jail for two years that you change your ways," Hodson said.

Jones nodded along as Hodson spoke and said that he would.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.