An Allegheny County jury convicted a McKeesport man of first-degree murder yesterday for shooting a neighbor during an altercation last year.

Thomas G. Davis II, 32, of McKeesport, was convicted in the shooting death of Leroy "Poonie" Hughes, 29.

Mr. Davis testified yesterday that when he intervened in a fight, Mr. Hughes threatened to kill him and go after his family, and he acted in self-defense because he saw Mr. Hughes reaching for what might have been a gun on his waist. Mr. Hughes suffered eight gunshot wounds.

Assistant District Attorney Ed Scheid pointed to the fact that Mr. Davis' actions after the June 3, 2008, shooting smacked of guilt. Mr. Davis fled the area, cut off his dreadlocks and assumed a fake name. He was arrested in November after a traffic stop in Nashville, Tenn.