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A 2005 Altoona Area High School graduate accused of shooting and killing his neighbor in Florida was found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm last week.
James Andrew Gainvors, 36, formerly of Altoona and now living in Port Charlotte, Fla., broke down sobbing after the jury rendered its guilty verdict after the two-day trial, according to media reports.
He was arrested July 19 on a second-degree murder charge, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. His arrest came two weeks after the July 5 shooting death of Matt Hanson, who at one time had been Gainvors' friend, according to court documents.
"The incident was the culmination of an ongoing dispute between neighbors," the sheriff's office said in its report posted online in July.
Gainvors was cooperative with deputies throughout the investigation by the sheriff's office and the State Attorney's Office, the report states.
According to court documents, Charlotte County officers responded to a shooting on Corinne Avenue in Port Charlotte about 1:15 p.m. July 5. A single gunshot was discharged, striking the 39-year-old Hanson in the chest. Hanson made it back to his home across the street, where he collapsed. He was transported to a hospital, where he died.
During the trial, the defense argued that Gainvors feared for himself and for his family, but the prosecution argued Gainvors killed Hanson because he hated him.
"When I drew my gun, I didn't think he was gonna stop," Gainvors said as he recalled that day. "I thought he was gonna kill us. I didn't want to shoot him, but he didn't. He kept coming closer and closer."
He had a choice to shoot Hanson on July 5 or put the weapon away. Instead, Gainvors chose to fire, prosecutors said.
During closing arguments, the defense told the jury that Gainvors shot Hanson because he was terrified of what Hanson would do.
The prosecution said whatever happened in the past does not justify killing someone.
Gainvors faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 22.
Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner, of the State Attorney's Office Homicide Unit, and Assistant State Attorney Christopher Stone prosecuted the case.