Man who shot deputies acquitted of 1994 killing

A man who fatally shot a Colorado sheriff’s deputy and wounded two others was acquitted of killing a man during a chess game more than two decades ago.

Jurors in 1994 found Martin Wirth not guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of his 24-year-old neighbor during an argument in Fort Collins. It’s about 100 miles northeast of the home near the town of Bailey where deputies went Wednesday to evict Wirth. He opened fire and then died in the shootout.

In the earlier slaying, the Coloradoan newspaper reported at the time that prosecutors said the two were arguing inside the victim’s house and Wirth left to get a revolver.

Wirth testified that the man provoked him to come outside and then lunged for his gun. Wirth shot him twice in the chest.

Jurors told the newspaper they were conflicted about the verdict.