A Lancaster teenager was convicted of third-degree murder and two other charges Thursday afternoon for killing a man during an incident in the 600 block of South Lime Street in 2019.

Rahmir Hopkins, now 16, shot 24-year-old Luis Perez in the back as he tried to get up while two of Hopkins’ companions were fighting with him on October 9, 2019. Perez died at the scene.

Prosecutors sought a first-degree murder verdict. The jury heard testimony the victim had punched the defendant prior to being shot. The defendant’s friends then started punching Perez before Hopkins shot him.

The jury returned its verdict Thursday around 4:00 p.m. after about two and a half hours of deliberations. Hopkins was also convicted of possessing a firearm as a minor and carrying a firearm without a license.

The jury listened to four days of testimony before starting deliberations Thursday around 1:30 p.m.

Attorneys gave closing arguments Thursday morning before County Judge Jeffery D. Wright who instructed the jurors on the law to be applied during deliberations.

Assistant District Attorney Cody Wade presented evidence and called witnesses that were at the scene of the shooting and who gave statements to police following the incident that indicated Hopkins was the shooter.

The Commonwealth rested its case Thursday.

Witnesses included:

-A forensic pathologist who performed Perez’s autopsy and testified he was shot in the back with a single bullet while crouched and from a distance.

-An eyewitness who saw Hopkins put the gun into his waistband before running following the shooting.

-Detectives who recorded interviews with witnesses that saw Hopkins commit the crime and who admitted Hopkins told them he committed the crime.

Sentencing will occur at a later date. Hopkins faces up to 52 years in prison.

Detective Stan Roache LCBOP filed charges.