An Allegheny County jury on Monday found a Munhall man guilty of first-degree murder in the 2018 shooting death of his girlfriend.
The jury deliberated for about five hours during Friday and Monday before rendering its verdict for Darion Abel.
Abel, 27, will be sentenced Dec. 17. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
Prosecutors said Abel shot Miranda Grimm-Gilarski 17 times on Nov. 17, 2018, in her Munhall home.
Abel’s lawyer argued his client was guilty but mentally ill.
The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office fought back against that characterization and produced an expert witness, a psychiatrist, who testified Abel was able to form the intent to kill prior to the shooting.
Grimm-Gilarski was 19 and had been dating Abel for several months when police say he killed her while she was babysitting her younger sister.
Abel took the stand in his own defense and admitted he shot Grimm-Gilarski.
He testified he intended to show up at her house and kill himself but instead kicked in her door and started firing.