Neal Augenstein, wtop.com
ROCKVILLE, Md. – An Iraq war veteran from Bethesda who fired a high-powered rifle at his ex-girlfriend in September 2010 has been found guilty of attempted first degree murder.
Joshua Prince also was convicted of assault, carrying a dangerous weapon, and failing to comply with a protective order, after a four-day trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court.
Prince faces life in prison for the attempted murder conviction, when he’s sentenced July 6.
Prince fired at his ex-girlfriend as she got into her car in her parking garage. She was unhurt.
Thirty minutes after the shooting, Prince texted the woman, saying “I pictured my life without you and you with another man and I snapped.”
Minutes later, he texted, “I know I can’t take this back,” and “I know I just threw away my life.”
The shooting prompted a regional manhunt, which shut down ramps on Interstate 270 and caused nearby schools to go on lockdown.
Prince surrendered later that day in Montoursville, Pa.
Prince’s first attorney claimed the Gulf War veteran was suffering a post-traumatic stress disorder flashback during the shooting.
In October 2011, prosecutors withdrew a plea deal, that would have allowed Prince to plead guilty to first degree assault, rather than stand trial for attempted murder.
At the time of his arrest, Prince was employed as a cardiologist’s sonographer at Georgetown University Hospital.
Follow Neal and WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)