Bay Area Filmmaker Convicted In Killing Of Sister's Ex-Husband: Reports

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A Bay Area journalist and filmmaker was convicted Monday of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of his ex-brother-in-law, according to multiple news reports.

A jury on Monday found Kevin Epps guilty of voluntary manslaughter, according to a report by KQED. He was originally charged with first-degree murder, but a jury found that Epps did not act with malicious intent when he shot and killed Marcus Polk in 2016, according to the report.

Epps was also found guilty of two counts of possession of a firearm as a felon due to a non-violent felony, more than a decade ago, which barred him from owning any weapons at the time of the shooting, according to the report.

Polk came into Epps' home and refused to leave. Epps shot him, saying it was in self-defense, according to the report.

Prosecutors argued that Epps did not act in self-defense when he shot Polk, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Epps' spokesperson, Julian Davis, said prosecutors misled the jury and that defense attorneys planned to appeal the decision, according to the report.

Epps is known for his films "Straight Outta Hunters Point", "Rap Dreams" and "Hippie Hill."

Read more from KQED and the San Francisco Chronicle.