A Madison County jury on Tuesday found LaJaromeny Brown guilty of capital murder in the 2019 slaying of Huntsville police officer Billy Clardy III in an undercover drug operation.

The jury foreman choked up as he read the verdict.

The jury deliberated for parts of four days before returning the unanimous verdict. The jury needed only about 15 minutes Tuesday morning to arrive at a verdict. Altogether, jury discussions lasted more than 11 hours.

Brown had no outward emotion as the verdict was read. Members of his family wiped tears while members of the Clardy family hugged each other and prosecutors Tim Gann and Tim Douthit. Clardy’s colleagues on the drug task force, including those who were part of the operation where he died, gave each other hugs as well.

Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles was in the courtroom when the verdict was read as well as curious onlookers including other lawyers and judges.

The jury immediately reconvene for the penalty phase of the trial to determine if Brown is sentenced to death or life in prison without the opportunity for parole.

Brown shot Clardy three times inside an abandoned north Huntsville house on Levert Street after police set a trap to arrest Brown – who arrived at the scene believing he was selling 100 pounds of marijuana to an interested customer, who happened to be an undercover drug task force officer.

Prosecutors said Brown fled the house after the shooting and he was captured moments later about a block away.

The trial revealed that there was no doubt that Brown was the shooter who killed Clardy. Brown confessed that he shot him during testimony last Thursday, apologized to the Clardy family and expressed remorse. Prosecutors Tim Douthit and Tim Gann of the Madison County district attorney’s office questioned the sincerity of that apology during their closing arguments Thursday.

After taking more than a week to select a jury, the trial itself began Wednesday and wrapped up in less than three days. Brown, taking the stand in his own defense, was the only witness called by defense attorneys.

This story will be updated.