An Alabama cop who fatally shot a suicidal man was found guilty of murder and faces decades behind bars, reports say

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A Huntsville, Alabama cop faces 20 years to life behind bars after he was found guilty of killing a  49-year-old suicidal man in 2018, according to The New York Times. 

A Madison County, Alabama jury convicted William Ben Darby of murder Friday for the death of Jeffrey Parker, WHNT-TV and AL.com reported. 

Darby was released from the county jail on a $100,000 bond just hours later, the reports said. 

According to the reports, Darby fatally shot Parker in the face three years ago, on April 3, 2018. Parker dialed 911, saying that he was going to kill himself and when officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Parker with a gun to his head at his home. 

Another Huntsville officer, Genisha Pegues, was trying to help Parker when Darby entered the home and fired his weapon, the AL.com reported. During the trial, Pegues testified that she tried to "de-escalate" the situation, while Darby testified that he was in fear and trying to protect himself and his colleagues during the situation, according to the outlet.  

Darby's attorney said they will appeal the jury's verdict and local officials said they were in "shock" and pushed back against the jury's decision. In a statement, Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray said he does not "believe Officer Darby is a murderer," according to WHNT-TV. 

"Officers are forced to make split-second decisions every day, and Officer Darby believed his life and the lives of other officers were in danger," McMurray said. "Any situation that involves a loss of life is tragic. Our hearts go out to everyone involved."

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle echoed McMurray's statement.

"Officer Darby followed the appropriate safety protocols in his response on the scene. He was doing what he was trained to do in the line of duty," Battle said, the news station reported. "Fortunately, Officer Darby has the same appeal rights as any other citizen and is entitled to exercise those rights."

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