A 19-year-old Asian gang member was convicted of the 2007 first degree shooting murder of a police detective in a Sacramento court room yesterday. The officer was a member of the Sheriff’s anti-gang unit.

The courtroom was filled shoulder-to-shoulder with police officers and sheriff's deputies who reacted in powerful silence Wednesday when a jury convicted the Sacramento street gang member.

Because the man was a juvenile at the time of the crime, he was not eligible for the death penalty. The then juvenile had runaway from a roup home and was confronted near a gangster hangout trying to buy drugs.

An anonymous jury was seated and kept confidential fearing retribution by other gand members.

Sentencing will be next month and he is expected to receive a life sentence.