CROWN POINT | A Lake County Criminal Court jury deliberated four hours Thursday before finding Gerald Smith, 56, of Gary, not guilty of murder in the 2006 shooting death of Anthony Dennison.

Gary police Cpl. Kenneth Etchinson testified Monday he responded to a disturbance call -- not a murder -- when he arrived in September 2006 at Smith's Pennsylvania Street residence.

Etchinson said he didn't realize it was a homicide until Smith told him about the body.

Gary police found Dennison's body sitting on Smith's couch, his hands clasped over a small bullet wound in his chest, court records allege.

"I didn't want to shoot him," Smith is quoted as having told Gary police at the scene. "But he wouldn't leave when I told him to leave, so I popped him."

Smith told officers he fired six warning shots into the wall, then Dennison approached him, defense attorney T. Edward Page said Monday in court.

Deputy Prosecutor Joe Curosh III pointed out Smith had no injuries or wounds.