CHICAGO, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- An Illinois jury convicted a University Park resident of second-degree murder for shooting a man whose puppy urinated on his manicured lawn, officials said.

Charles Clements, a 69-year-old retired truck driver and former Marine, will be sentenced in December, and remains free on bond in the murder of Joshua Funches, 23, the Chicago Tribune reported.


Following a three-day trial, a Will County jury Friday found that Clements had an "unreasonable" belief he was in imminent danger when she shot and killed Funches, a father of two, in May.

The incident occurred on May 9, after Clements confronted Funches, who was walking his dog on the sidewalk in front of Clements' suburban home.

Witnesses said Clements followed Funches for about 50 yards, assailing him about his puppy. Funches eventually punched Clements in the face, and Clements pulled out a handgun and shot him. After the shooting, witnesses said, Clements walked back home and changed clothes.

The crime carries a sentence of anything from probation to 20 years in prison, the newspaper said.