SAN ANTONIO – An Atascosa County jury found 36-year-old Shaun Ruiz Puente guilty of capital murder for shooting and killing San Antonio Police Officer Robert Deckard.

Deckard's family and colleagues have waited a long time for the verdict. The case began during a high speed chase 5 years ago.

A jury found that Puente fired a fatal shot, hitting the 31-year-old peace officer in the forehead, causing Deckard to crash his patrol vehicle into a tree. Thirteen days later, the SAPD officer was taken off life support.

Bexar County Police Chief William McManus spoke with Spectrum News on Wednesday, saying Deckard was a hard worker, well-liked and committed to his chosen profession.

On Dec. 8, 2013 while on patrol on the city's South Side, Deckard started to chase a gray vehicle involved in armed robberies. The chase reached speeds of 115 mph.

In the end McManus said, a good cop is dead and his two children were left without their father, and many people looking for closure.

"It's never enough. It certainly won't bring Officer Deckard back. Hopefully it will provide some semblance of closure for the family and to the department," said McManus.

The punishment phase of the trial will begin Thursday morning. If Puente is sentenced to death by the jury, the finding will automatically go the appeals process.

Co-defendant Jenevieve Ramos will stand trial at a later date.