Ty Underwood was murdered in January 2015.

After jurors Thursday found a former Texas College football player guilty of murdering a transgender woman last year, he shouted, “I’ll be back on the streets” and had to be restrained by deputies.

Jurors deliberated two hours before returning the guilty verdict against Carlton Ray Champion, 21, in the Jan. 26 death of Ty Underwood, 24.

Champion, of Longview, was arrested days after Underwood was found shot to death in a vehicle in the 400 block of West 24th Street in Tyler. The two had been in a relationship, and text messages the night Underwood was killed indicate they had been fighting, according to the arrest affidavit.

During the three-day trial, the state called several witnesses. The defense rested without calling any witnesses.

In his closing arguments, defense attorney Melvin Thompson said the state lacked the evidence to convict his client.

“Not a single police officer got on the stand and testified that any evidence connected Champion,” Thompson said. “The police didn’t let the facts lead them to the suspect. They got a suspect and then tried to find evidence.”  

Prosecutor Jacob Putman, in his closing arguments, went into detail about the fact that Ty was transgender and Carlton was dating her.

“This case is not about convicting Champion because of his lifestyle or who he hung out with,” Putman said. “This case is about convicting Champion because he killed Ty Underwood.” 

The sentencing phase of the trial will begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

TWITTER: @KYTXRisaMorris