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The suspect charged in the death of a Palm Beach County artist, who was killed while she was at the beach with her fiancé more than four years ago, was found guilty Wednesday.
Amari Wellons, 21, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder shortly after Maria Tritico, the director of education at Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, was killed in December 2020.
WATCH BELOW: Suspect convicted of killing artist who was having beach day
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before reaching the verdict.
Wellons’ family cried after the verdict was read and was visibly upset.
The defense argued in the trial that Wellons was running away from the gunfire.
Tritico, 32, of Tequesta was sitting on the beach near Ocean Walk on Dec. 6, 2020, when she was hit by a stray bullet and died the next day at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
WPTV has been closely following the case after Tritico was killed nearly four and a half years ago.
We were the only news team in the Palm Beach County courtroom on Monday when the trial began.
Wellons was 16 when he was charged as an adult in the crime.
Family members called the local artist a “bright shining light” who was planning to get married in her hometown of Houston later that month on New Year’s Eve.
WPTV spoke with Tritico’s father, Chris, after the verdict was read Wednesday, listening to him describe waiting more than four years for this moment.
“This has been an emotional day, but we feel a lot of relief,” Chris Tritico said. “We’ve been waiting so long to get to today, to get this behind us, so that we can start healing more.”
WPTV also saw Wellons’ family send their condolences to Tritico’s family before they left the courtroom.
Prosecutors said they expect Wellons to serve at least 40 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 1.
READ WPTV’S PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THE CASE BELOW:
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