Palmdale Man Found Guilty Of Murdering Owner Of Acton Water Company

PALMDALE (CBSLA.com)  – A Palmdale man was found guilty of second-degree murder Friday for fatally shooting the owner of the Acton Water Company during a verbal confrontation that escalated.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that Scott Russell Shipley, 57, was also found guilty of intentionally discharging his firearm when he shot Christopher Demyen on May 15, 2013.

Authorities said Shipley faces a 40-years-to-life state prison sentence. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 6 in Department A21 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch.

Shipley was driving on a small dirt road towards his house on Eagle Butte Road when he saw the water truck parked in front of a neighbor's house filling up a pool. Unable to pass, Shipley called the victim to complain. Shipley told the victim he was going to block the company truck and walked to his house where he retrieved a gun, according to testimony during trial.

A witness testified that when the victim arrived at the scene to talk to Shipley, they got into an argument. Shipley pushed Demyen, the verbal argument turned into a fist fight, and Shipley pulled out the gun and shot the victim in the chest, Deputy District Attorney Trainor said.