Mitchell Heng dissolved into tears and collapsed to the floor outside the courtroom Thursday evening after a Clark County jury found him guilty of killing a clerk and setting fire to Sifton Market in January 2017.

As a shackled Heng sobbed uncontrollably, two corrections deputies helped him up and, with one at each side, assisted Heng out of the courthouse.

His family and friends, also in tears, trailed behind yelling that they loved him and to stay strong.

The Clark County Superior Court jury reached its verdict in about two hours’ time, to the surprise of many who sat through the trial, and convicted Heng of first-degree murder in the death of 47-year-old Amy Marie Hooser, as well as first-degree arson. He was acquitted of first-degree robbery.

Heng, 24, was emotional before learning his fate, tearing up at defense counsel’s table and exclaiming, “Oh, God!” as he waited. “Keep it together,” defense attorney Matthew Hoff told him. But as the verdict was read aloud, Heng buried his face in his hands and quietly cried. He turned to his supporters after and mouthed, “I love you.”