photo by: Mike Yoder

Zachary James Ortiz

A Lawrence man shot by police more than two years ago was found guilty on Friday of leveling a loaded shotgun at the officer during the incident.

Zachary James Ortiz, 26, was charged with one felony count of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer. The criminal trial began Monday, and he was found guilty of the charge Friday.

In the early-morning hours of June 23, 2014, Lawrence Police Officer Skyler Richardson responded to a call of shots being fired near the intersection of Kasold Drive and Harvard Road.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Zachary James Ortiz

There, at the Ortiz home, Ortiz’s father said he and his son had been arguing. Richardson said he entered the home to ensure everybody’s safety. Inside he said he saw Ortiz loading a “camouflage” and “tactical” shotgun and aiming it at him. The situation became one “where he had to protect himself,” prosecutor David Melton said.

Not only did Ortiz tell Richardson the shotgun was loaded, Melton said during closing arguments, but he also refused to drop the weapon when commanded.

Richardson then “did what he had to do,” Melton said — “what the defendant forced him to do.”

Defense Attorney Cooper Overstreet argued, however, that Richardson was not justified in entering the home and questioned his ability to recall what happened inside the home.

Richardson’s testimony was “motivated by justifying his actions after the fact,” Overstreet said.

However, Melton argued that Richardson’s actions were not a question for the jury to decide. Rather, the jury’s task was to determine whether Ortiz committed an assault in leveling the shotgun.

The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office determined in July 2014 that Richardson’s use of force in shooting Ortiz was justified.

After he was shot, Ortiz was flown to Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., where he was treated for his injuries.

After more than two hours of deliberation Friday the jury found Ortiz guilty of the single felony charge of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.

Accepting the jury’s verdict, Douglas County District Court Judge Peggy Kittel ordered the completion of a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled Ortiz to appear in court at 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 to be sentenced.