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WEBVTT NEWS 4REPORTER ASHLIE HARDWAY WASTHERE.REPORTER: JURORS BEGANDELIBERATING IN THE MURDER TRIALAGAINST MAXWELL MORTON AROUND1:00 THIS AFTERNOON.THEY WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE IFHE IS GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY OFFIRST-DEGREE MURDER, THIRDDEGREE MURDER OR IN VOLUNTARYMANSLAUGHTER.DURING HIS CLOSING ARGUMENT THEDEFENSE ATTORNEY ARGUED FOR THEINVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGESAYING THAT THESE ARE CHILDREN.MORTON OF COURSE IS ON TRIAL FORSHOOTING AND KILLING HIS FRIEND,RYAN MANAGAN AT HIS JEANNETTEHOME BACK IN 2015.MORTON TOOK THE STAND THISMORNING AND MAINTAINS THESHOOTING WAS ACCIDENTAL.HIS ATTORNEY TOLD JURORS THATTHE BOYS WERE PLAYING AND THATTHEY WERE PLAYING WITH THIS GUNTHAT WAS INSIDE THE HOME.HE SAID "THESE WERE TWODING-A-LINGS PLAYING WITH THISGUN AND IT GOES OFF" REFERRINGTO RYAN MANAGAN AND MORTON.DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN PECK TOLDJURORS DON'T DELIBERATE BASED ONYOUR FEELING WHAT WILL HELP YOUSLEEP BETTER IN NIGHT, INSTEADUSE THE EVIDENCE AND APPLY IT TOTHE LAW.PECK ARGUED THAT MORTON DID NOTSEEK HELP FOR HIS FRIEND WHO WASSHOT IN THE FACE, AND INSTEADRYAN MANAGAN BLED OUT FOR HAMINUTES TO AN HOUR.A PATHOLOGIST TESTIFYINGYESTERDAY THAT HAD HE RECEIVEDMEDICAL ATTENTION HE MIGHT HAVEBEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE.YOU'LL HAVE WANT TO STAY WITHPITTSBURGH'S ACTION NEWS 4THROUGHOUT THE EVENING FORDEVELOPMENTS.

Advertisement 'Selfie murder' trial: Jeannette man found guilty of killing friend, 16 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

An 18-year-old man who shot his 16-year-old friend two years ago while they played video games, then took a selfie of himself next to the victim, was found guilty Thursday of third-degree murder by a Westmoreland County jury. "It was a difficult case because of what he did afterwards, in terms of the selfie and all of the other stuff," said Maxwell Morton's defense attorney, Pat Thomassey. "I give the jury credit. I think they came to a reasonable conclusion based upon all of the evidence they saw." Morton, of Jeannette, testified that he and Ryan Mangan had no issues between them, and he was having fun visiting Mangan's home that day in February 2015. Morton said the two were pretending to be rappers and imitating what they do in music videos when he saw a lump in a pillowcase, and Mangan pulled out a handgun. Morton testified that Mangan was waving the weapon around and pointed it at him, and Morton then wanted to handle the gun. Morton told the jury that the clip was out of the firearm, and he didn't think the weapon was loaded when he pointed it at Mangan and pulled the trigger. The gun fired once, hitting Mangan in the face, but Morton said he did not call 911, nor did he call his parents or ask neighbors for help, because he was afraid to tell anyone what happened. Morton took a selfie of himself smiling next to Mangan and sent it via Snapchat to a teenager in another state. The teen's parent reported the photo, and Jeannette police were notified of the shooting. The picture was introduced as evidence in the trial. Dr. Cyril Wecht, a forensic pathologist, testified that Mangan could have survived the shooting if he had received medical care. Instead, authorities said Morton posed for a selfie with his dying friend and then fled the house without seeking aid. Morton was returned to the county prison after the verdict to await his sentencing date.