LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An Ohio man was convicted of murder Monday night in southern Indiana more than four years after police arrested him for shooting and killing a family member.

Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said Christian White was convicted by a jury after three hours of deliberation. In 2024, his first criminal trial resulted in a hung jury.

"The Clark County Prosecutor's Office will relentlessly work to convict and remove from our streets the violent offenders in our community," Mull said in a news release Tuesday. "I will not tolerate individuals harming the people of Clark County, and will always seek to have those dangerous offenders charged, convicted, and imprisoned."

White's sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. March 26. He faces up to 85 years in prison.

Police said the December 2020 shooting was a result of an argument between family members, and that the suspect, identified as Christian White, of Ohio, got away before officers arrived on the scene. Police said White was a family member of the man he shot and killed.

Jeffersonville Police later notified Jeffersontown Police that the suspect was believed to be hiding in the city, and to be on the lookout for a red SUV. Police in Jeffersontown found the SUV, a 2012 Mercedes, at the Chestnut Ridge Apartments and set up surveillance. 

According to Jeffersontown Police Chief Rick Sanders, officers approached White as he and a woman left an apartment and walked toward the SUV. White then pulled a gun and ran back into the apartment with the woman, police said.

Jeffersontown Police called the Louisville Metro Police Department to the scene for backup, as well as SWAT and the Hostage Negotiation Team. Sanders said nearly 60 police officers responded to the scene.

Once inside the apartment, White called police and told him that he had hostages — the woman he was seen with outside as well as another woman and her 2-year-old child who police believe lived in the apartment — and he had just gotten out of prison and would "not go back alive."

"This was a very, very volatile situation," said Kenny Kavanaugh, with Jeffersonville police. "He made the phone call and informed us who he had. He had a 2-year-old child in there, that drew grave concern in what we had."

Sanders said members of SWAT and the Hostage Negotiation Team stayed in communication with White throughout the day and early Friday morning. Around midnight Friday, officers convinced White to release the child. Then, around 2 a.m., Sanders said they got him to release the child's mother.

White, police said, made several calls to officers and the Hostage Negotiation Team. Sanders said the calls varied and he made demands, which included talking to family members from northern Ohio, who were brought in by police.

Eventually, gas was released into the apartment, forcing White and the other woman he had held hostage outside. Sanders said White was apprehended without further incident and turned over to Jeffersonville police.

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