Brownsville, TX (KRGV) — A Cameron County jury found Rogelio Martinez guilty of capital murder in the 2023 killing of a San Benito police lieutenant.

Closing arguments ended Thursday morning and jurors deliberated for over four hours. The case centered on San Benito Police Lt. Milton Resendez, who was fatally shot during a high-speed chase in Cameron County on Oct. 17, 2023.

READ MORE ABOUT THE CHASE HERE

Prosecutors said Martinez knew he was shooting at a police officer during the chase. They pointed to his recorded interview with investigators, where he admitted firing at officers during the pursuit and argued he was close enough to see Resendez and know he was an officer.

The defense said there was reasonable doubt about who fired the shot that killed Resendez. Defense lawyers also questioned why driver Rodrigo Espinosa-Valdez was never called to testify and pointed to DNA evidence linking him to the gun identified as the murder weapon.

The defense also argued Martinez never intended to kill anyone and that the state failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. 

The trial will now move to a separate punishment phase to decide whether Martinez gets the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.