Michael Jace, actor on 'The Shield,' convicted in fatal shooting of wife in front of children

Actor Michael Andrew Jace was convicted Tuesday of fatally shooting his wife, April Denise Jace, in front of their two young sons, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. 

A jury of six women and six men deliberated about two hours before finding Michael Jace, 53, guilty of second-degree murder in April Jace's May 19, 2014, death. Jurors also found true the special allegation that Jace used a firearm to commit the crime. 

Michael Jace, who portrayed a police officer in the FX series “The Shield,” was upset that his wife wanted a divorce and believed she was seeing someone else, prosecutors said in the week-long trial.

On the evening of the killing, Jace waited for his wife in their home, prosecutors said. About 8 p.m., when she arrived with their sons after the boys' baseball practice, Michael Jace shot her once in the back, a detective told The Times at the time of the killing. 

Michael Jace then taunted his wife and shot her two more times in the legs in front of their sons, who were 8 and 5 at the time, prosecutors said. 

Jace's 10-year-old son testified that he heard his father say, "'If you like running, then run to heaven,'" before firing the second time, according to an Associated Press report. 

Jace then called 911 and told the operator that he shot his wife, according to evidence presented at trial. Jace later told detectives that he also planned to kill himself but could not do it. 

Her body was found inside the couple’s home along with their two children, who were unharmed. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:55 p.m., according coroner's records. 

At the time of the killing, neighbors expressed shock and said they never saw or suspected any violence in the home. "All I heard coming out of that household were giggles," longtime neighbor Shirley Harding told The Times.

Michael Jace will return to court June 10 for sentencing. He faces 40 years to life in state prison. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @jeromercampbell and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.