A teen accused of stabbing a classmate to death at Coral Gables High School during a fight has been found guilty of second-degree murder, a Miami-Dade jury concluded Tuesday.
The jury deliberated for just over three hours in the trial of 19-year-old Andy Rodriguez, who pulled out a knife during a fight with 17-year-old Juan Carlos Rivera in September 2009.
Rivera died from the stab wounds.
"We are happy with the verdict," prosecutor Marie Mato said. "Our job is to bring a sense of justice."
Rodriguez is facing life behind bars at sentencing Oct. 4.
Rivera's family left the courtroom quickly after the verdict was read and his mother was crying.
Attorneys gave closing arguments Monday, wrapping up nearly two weeks of testimony.
Prosecutors alleged Rodriguez was the instigator of the deadly fight and painted the teen as a jealous boyfriend who was mad at a rival.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez's attorneys told jurors their client acted in self-defense and was being choked at the time of the stabbing.
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"Andy is devastated, but that's how it goes sometimes," defense attorney Alexander Michael. "i don't think he is a murderer."
