A jury reached a verdict in the murder trial of Michael Lang Monday.
Jury finds Lang guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of attempted murder, guilty of assaulting peace officer.
Lang has now been convicted of murdering Sgt. Jim Smith in April of last year during a standoff at his home. Authorities were trying to get him to surrender to police after he assaulted a Grundy Center police officer that night.
The trial started last Monday. The State had several witnesses, including many officers that were at Lang's home on April 9, 2021.
The State and Defense both rested on Thursday with Lang declining to take the stand.
Lang will be held without bail pending sentencing.
He will get a mandatory life sentence on his murder charge.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Douglas Hammerand argued Lang's shooting of Smith was premediated and intentional, noting he was shot in the chest at close range.
“You don’t shoot somebody where the defendant shot them with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun if it’s not intentional,” Hammerand said.
The defense conceded Lang shot him and that the killing was tragic, but that he only reacted when officers opened his kitchen door and when a Bearcat vehicle broke down his kitchen wall.
“Time and time again come out or we're sending the dog. Come out or my dog will bite you. When that door is open, instead of being faced with the canine coming into the kitchen, he's faced with the long gun, a rifle of the state trooper pointed at him. That's when the shot rang out,” defense attorney Hawbaker said.
Hawbaker added Lang never shot and other officers including two that took cover in his basement for hours after Smith was shot and killed.
After the trial, Smith's family gave this statement through Iowa State Patrol Captain Mark Miller.
Although we know it had to be difficult to relive the events of that night, we appreciate those who testified. Their willingness and bravery to do so was inspiring. And of course, the family would like to thank their ISP family. We could not have done this without your unwavering support. God provided us with comfort on the difficult days this past year and now he has provided justice. Jim was honored once again with the serving of what he loved to implement the most and that is justice.