Alvin Motley Jr. PHOTO COURTESY OF X.COM

Memphis, Tenn. (AP) — A former security guard has been convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting of an unarmed Black man during a dispute over loud music at a supermarket gas station in Memphis, Tennessee.

Gregory Livingston, 57, was found guilty by a jury Friday in the August 2021 fatal shooting of 48-year-old Alvin Motley Jr., who had been visiting Memphis from Chicago when he got into an argument with Livingston at a Kroger gas station, news outlets reported.

Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft sentenced Livingston to life in prison.

Motley, who was Black, was a passenger in a car when Livingston, who is white, approached and engaged in a conversation about loud music coming from the vehicle that prosecutors said steadily escalated, according to court documents.

Holding a beer and a cigarette, Motley walked toward Livingston during the argument and suggested they discuss the matter “like men.” Livingston drew his gun and fired a single shot into Motley’s chest. He died at the scene.

During trial, Livingston’s lawyers argued that he acted in self-defense. Court records show a motion for a new trial has been filed.

The office of Nashville district attorney Glenn Funk handled the case after thenShelby County district attorney Amy Weirich recused herself because an investigator in her office had an off-duty job with the security company that employed Livingston.

Livingston was previously a police officer in Horn Lake, Mississippi.

Motley’s sister has said he was an aspiring actor, entertainer and radio personality.