A Butler Township man was found guilty of third-degree murder Thursday, Sept. 18, for shooting a man six times in June 2024.

Nathan Michael, 29, was convicted by a jury in Butler County Common Pleas Court for the June 24, 2024, death of Joseph Derenzo, 38.

A jury of six men and six women deliberated 2 1/2 hours Wednesday, then returned Thursday morning and reached the verdict just before noon.

The trial began Monday. The district attorney’s office sought a first-degree murder conviction.

Judge Joseph Kubit scheduled sentencing for Oct. 23.

Members of Derenzo’s family were not pleased with the verdict and said they felt the prosecution proved the shooting was first-degree murder. Assistant district attorney Robert Zanella, who prosecuted the case, declined to comment following the verdict. Family and friends of Michael declined to comment.

Michael’s attorney, R. Anthony Deluca, said he was relieved Michael was acquitted of first degree murder.

“He’s a young man and there’s a large difference between life in prison and a sentence issued by the judge at his discretion,” Deluca said.

Under state law, first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of death or life in prison. Third-degree murder is a first-degree felony that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

“Not fair,” Joseph Derenzo’s father, Nick Derenzo, said following the verdict. “I feel it was premeditated.”

“All the evidence supported first-degree murder,” said Joseph Derenzo’s uncle, Pete Chiranbolo. “The jury made a mockery of the justice system.”

He said Michael showed no remorse.

Michael, who testified Tuesday, said he shot Derenzo in self-defense. He claimed Derenzo tried to push his way into his Spooner Drive home from the attached garage and he pushed Derenzo back. Michael said Derenzo reached for his waistband and for a rifle in the garage at which time he shot him. After shooting Derenzo three times, Michael said Derenzo made another move for the rifle and he fired more shots at him.

Prosecution and defense attorneys stipulated that methamphetamine was found in Michael’s system following the shooting. Michael admitted he had ingested the drug.

Zanella argued that Michael ambushed Derenzo while he was working on a motorcycle in the garage. He pointed to autopsy results showing the shots were fired at a downward angle and said Michael planted the rifle in the garage. Zanella said three casings from fired bullets were found in the house and three were found in the garage, which he said proved Michael repositioned himself before firing the last three shots.

Two of the first three shots struck Derenzo’s heart and two of the last three shots struck his aorta. One of those shots fractured his spinal column, according to a forensic pathologist who testified.

Derenzo was not armed, according to testimony.

This article was updated Sept. 19, 2025.