Palmdale man found guilty in Acton shooting

A 57-year-old Palmdale man was found guilty April 25 of second-degree murder for the May 2013 killing of an Acton man, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

A jury found Scott Russell Shipley guilty of shooting Christopher Lawrence Demyen to death.

Demyen, 39, was shot and killed May 15, 2013, in the 1500 block of Eagle-Butte Road in Acton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Demyen and Shipley had gotten into an argument over where Demyen, the owner of the Acton Water Co., had parked his water truck.

Unable to drive through to his Eagle-Butte Road home, Shipley parked his truck blocking Demyen's, walked home and retrieved a gun, according to testimony given at the trial.

When he returned, the two men got into a verbal argument that turned into a physical altercation. At some point, Shipley pulled his gun and shot Demyen in the chest.

Demyen was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:20 p.m.

Shipley is expected back in court for sentencing on June 6.

-- Maloy Moore