Michael Jace was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the 2014 murder of his wife, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Friday.
The actor, who previously appeared in the hit FX series “The Shield,” was convicted on May 31 of second-degree murder. Prosecutors said that Jace, 53, shot his wife three times at the couple’s home, twice in the legs and once in the back, with their two young sons present.
During the trial, the couple’s 10-year-old son, Nehemiah, testified that he saw his father pull April Jace into a hallway, and then heard his father tell her, “If you like running, then run to heaven,” the Associated Press reported.
During the trial, Jace’s lawyer said he acknowledged killing his wife, but added that his state of mind would factor heavily in his defense.
The actor did not take the stand during his trial. However, the jury heard a transcript of Jace’s interview with detectives in which he said that he had only intended to shoot his wife in the leg.
Jace told police that he initially intended to take his own life with the gun, but ultimately couldn’t muster up the courage and decided to take aim at his wife.
“I was just angry,” Jace said. “All I intended to do was shoot her in the leg. And then I shot her in the leg and that was it.”
Jace was reportedly upset that his wife planned to divorce him, and suspected her of infidelity.