ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — It has been nearly three years since Dreion Dearing shot and killed an Adams County sheriff’s deputy, but on Thursday the jury in his trial found him guilty of first-degree murder of a peace officer.

He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In opening statements, prosecutors said Deputy Heath Gumm was searching for a suspect after an assault call on Jan. 24, 2018. Attorneys say 24-year-old Dearing, the suspect, jumped fences then hid on a deck, waiting for Gumm. They say he deliberately shot Gumm seven times.

But defense attorneys paint a very different picture, saying the shooting was self-defense.

Defense attorneys claim Gumm fired first. They say Gumm shot at Dearing as he ran, that Dearing dropped to the ground fearing he was about to be killed, then began firing wildly in self-defense.

KDVR/KWGN legal analyst Chris Decker says it’s not uncommon for shooting suspects to use this argument as a defense, even if they shot a law enforcement officer.

“The sequence of the shots may make a big difference, because if the suspect shoots at the officer first, that’s hardly self-defense. If, as the defense may claim, the officer shot first, the question then would be: was that a lawful use of force by the police officer in shooting at him? If so, what does that mean?” Decker said.

Dearing’s murder trial was originally scheduled for April, but it was declared a mistrial due to safety issues surrounding the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gumm’s father, Jim Gumm, spoke briefly with reporters following the verdict. 

“I was just hoping it went the way it did, and I’m glad it did,” he said.

Gumm also thanked the jury and prosecutors for devoting the past five weeks to the trial, before thanking friends and family for their support. 

“They’re what keeps us waking up in the morning,” he said. “They’re what keeps us breathing, and sometimes that seems like such a difficult task.”

District Attorney Dave Young spoke about the multiple delays in the trial due to COVID-19. 

“It’s very, very challenging to have a trial of this magnitude under the circumstances,” said Young. “There were at least three times where I thought this trial was going to end just based on COVID-19 issues, but we were able to get through it and able to get a just verdict.”

Young says while justice is served, closure for the family will be tough to come by.

“Although we’re satisfied with the verdict, they’re never going to have closure, because Heath can’t come back.”

Adams County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Adam Sherman issued the following statement:

“Nearly three years ago, we experienced a great loss to our agency and community. Last month, the trial for the murder of Deputy Heath Gumm began. Today we feel that justice for Heath was served. The loss of Heath has affected all of us in different ways. We at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office want to give sincere gratitude to all of our employees who worked in an exceptional professional manner on Heath’s case. We also want to thank the 17th judicial district Attorneys office, especially Dave Young, Jess Redman, and all the countless others from their office who dedicated their professional and personal lives to Heath’s case. We also want to give our sincerest gratitude to our community for the overwhelming support we have received from them. So on behalf of Heath’s family and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office we look forward to healing and having closure.”