A Lancaster man was convicted Monday of first-degree murder and all other charges regarding the fatal shooting last year of 35-year-old Hugo Garcia-Hernandez.
A Lancaster County jury returned its verdict Monday afternoon, finding Jose S. Ferrufino acted on premeditation and with specific intent to kill when he shot Garcia-Hernandez on March 22, 2017, inside Garcia-Hernandez’s home on Pennsy Road.
Ferrufino, 50, faces mandatory life imprisonment when County Judge David Ashworth orders sentence after a background investigation, in about two months.
After a week of testimony, the jury deliberated about four hours before deciding the case.
Ferrufino’s only visible reaction to the verdict was to lean back in his chair and adjust a headset he was using to hear an interpreter.
Assistant District Attorney Barry Goldman presented evidence at trial that Ferrufino had ill will toward Garcia-Hernandez due to a relationship the victim was having with Ferrufino’s wife.
State police Trooper Linda Gerow, who filed charges, was among several witnesses to testify.
“I credit the jury was for being very attentive and involved; they were extremely engaged in this case,” Goldman said after the verdict. “In my opinion, they fulfilled their duty as they should have.”
Garcia-Hernandez sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest and had been beaten in the face when he was found in his home in the 100 block of Pennsy Road.
Zip-ties were found on Garcia-Hernandez’s body.
Police learned there had been prior incidents of Ferrufino confronting, and threatening, Garcia-Hernandez over a relationship involving Garcia-Hernandez and Ferrufino’s wife.
A second man charged in the case testified for the Commonwealth. His case is pending.
Ferrufino also was convicted of numerous charges, including burglary, regarding an incident at Garcia-Hernandez’s home about three months before the murder.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright