From screen cop to lifelong inmate: Former ‘Shield’ actor Michael Jace sentenced to 40 years to life in prison in wife’s killing
Shield actor Michael Jace, lasdt week convicted of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting death of April Jace
The struggling actor now faces a life time behind bars
Jace playing the TV cop
An actor who played a police officer on the TV show “The Shield” has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for killing his wife.
Michael Jace was sentenced Friday in Los Angeles after being convicted of second-degree murder in the killing of April Jace.
A deceased April Jace is removed from the couple’s home in Los Angeles on May 20.
A jury in L.A. found him guilty of shooting and killing April Jace in 2014. During the trial, the jury heard a transcript of Michael’s interview with police … where he said he only intended to shoot her in the leg while they were arguing about a divorce.Michael shot April twice in the leg and once in the back, according to prosecutors while their 2 sons were in the house.
April’s parents called 911 to report the shooting, saying Jace had called them and confessed. His father-in-law told dispatchers Jace texted him to say he had just shot his wife April.
Micahel Jace and Wife April, he killed a few weeks later
Michael Jace was sentenced after an emotional hearing in which the victim’s family members wept as they spoke about the impact of her loss. Jace apologized to the family and said there’s no justification for his actions, that he had no intention of killing her.
The soon to b 54 Jace has acknowledged fatally shooting his wife in May 2014. His attorney told jurors that Jace acted in the heat of passion.
Prosecutors cited testimony from the couple’s 10-year-old son, who told jurors that he heard his father say, “‘If you like running, then run to heaven,'” before firing the second gunshot.
Police say ther were no previous records of Mchael abusing April
Michael Jace, 53, worked steadily in small roles in films such as “Planet of the Apes,” ”Boogie Nights,” ”Forrest Gump” and the television series “Southland.” had been experiencing financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and had fallen behind on payments just months before the shooting
Jace, who played a police officer confused about his sexuality on the FX TV series The Shield, said he had planned to kill himself with a revolver that belonged to April’s father. But he said he lacked the courage and shot his wife instead at their Los Angeles, California, home.
Deputy District Attorney Tannaz Mokayef told jurors that Jace lied about leaving the house and waited for her to return with their sons from a youth baseball game. According to Jace, he shot his wife after she lunged at him and he pushed her away. “I was just angry,’ Jace told investigators. ‘All I intended to do was shoot her in the leg. And then I shot her in the leg and that was it.”
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