28-year-old convicted in nightclub murder

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Omar Santiago, 28, was convicted Friday in the 2009 shooting death of 26-year-old Jean Justo. Santiago was found guilty of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit murder.

In February 2009, Santiago and Justo were at the Aqua nightclub on Beach Boulevard when the two began to argue over an incident that occurred days before, where Santiago's sister assaulted the victim's mother-in-law in front of the victim's child. During the argument, Santiago pulled a gun from his pocket and shot Justo two times in the chest area. Santiago fled the scene.

In February 2010, Santiago was captured in Puerto Rico and brought back to Jacksonville to face the murder charge. In 2011, while in the Duval County jail, Santiago tried to hire a hit man to murder the eyewitness in the case.

Santiago faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is set to be sentenced the week of March 10.