Verdict Reached In Pawn Shop Killing

EASLEY, S.C. - WYFF 4.com

A man who killed a pawn shop owner and fled to Canada was convicted of four felony charges in Picken County on Thursday.

Roger Eugene Shephard was convicted of murder, assault with intent to kill, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Shephard killed 65-year-old John Bruin in June of 2006. Bruin owned Action Pawn Shop in Easley. Shephard also stole several guns from the pawn shop.

Jurors heard about the discovery of those guns in court Tuesday. Alcohol, tobacco and firearms agent Francis Neeley from New York testified how he found nine guns in Shephard's bag.

They also heard testimony from people who knew Shephard.

"He told me had messed up," said Shephard's friend, Joseph Harley Kelly. "I asked him what he was talking about, and he told me had shot someone. At that time, I didn't know who it was. He told me that he had shot them and I was like, 'What did you do it for?' He told me that the gentleman didn't cooperate. I told him I thought that was messed up, and I told him the police were everywhere looking for him."

Shephard's former platoon leader also testified, saying that he bought Shephard the gun investigators said was used in the killing.

"I could get a better deal on a firearm and so forth," he said. "I told the soldier that he if he wanted, I could make the purchase to save him a couple hundred dollars and I would sell him the firearm."

Shephard was arrested in Montreal, Canada, just days after the shooting, but he requested refugee status in order to try to avoid the death penalty if convicted.

He was returned to the U.S. nearly two years later after Prosecutor Bob Ariail agreed not to seek the death penalty for Shephard.

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