A jury has found a 29-year-old man guilty of killing a dog owner after he injured the victim's pet with his car, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

On July 27, Demonte Antone Thomas of Lancaster was found guilty of first-degree murder with a handgun-use enhancement.

Deputy District Attorneys Steven Mac and Thomas Hilton co-prosecuted the case.

Sentencing is scheduled Aug. 14 in Department A11 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch. Thomas faces a possible maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison.

According to court testimony, the defendant struck victim Michael Davis' dog with his car on June 26, 2015 and fled the scene. Later the same night, the defendant returned to the home of the 22-year-old victim with a group of 5 to 7 men, prosecutors said.

When Davis requested that Thomas pay for the dog's veterinary bills, the defendant pulled out a gun and fatally shot the victim, prosecutors added. The dog did not survive the injuries.

Case MA066546 was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / Case MA066546 / July 31, 2017