DALLAS — Convicted capital murderer Wesley Lynn Ruiz was sentenced to death late Friday for the fatal shooting of a Dallas police officer. The Dallas County jury deliberated for more than 10 hours before sentencing him to death for capital murder in the killing of Dallas police Senior Cpl. Mark Nix.

As the verdict was read Ruiz's mother, Barbara Ruiz, sobbed into a crumbled tissue and turned to her mother for comfort.

Ruiz, 28, fatally shot Cpl. Nix after a high-speed chase in 2007. Ruiz testified last month during the guilt-innocence phase of the trial that he thought police were shooting at the car in which he was hiding. The jury did not believe his self-defense claim.

The courtroom was cleared about 6 p.m. tonight so the jury could watch the police dash camera recording of Cpl. Nix being shot. The recording was played repeatedly during the guilt-innocence phase of the trial and was also played during closing arguments earlier today.

The jury had two sentencing options: life without parole or death.

During closing arguments, defense attorney Paul Brauchle told the jury that they have to decide if they believe Ruiz is going to be a continuing threat, even if locked in prison.

Brauchle said prosecutors did not prove that Ruiz would be a violent inmate.

During the past year when Ruiz has been held in the Dallas County Jail, he has had no discipline problems, Brauchle said.

“It's like they are saying, 'Trust us. We're from the state. We're here to kill Wes Ruiz,'” Brauchle said.

Karo Johnson, another one of Ruiz's attorneys, ran at the jury box during his closing arguments holding the same baton Cpl. Nix used to break the car window of the car Ruiz was driving during the shooting incident.

Johnson hit the jury box with the baton, causing many of the jurors to jump.

Ruiz feared for his life, Johnson said.

Prosecutor Andy Beach rejected the defense attorneys' assertions of non-violence and reminded the jury that Ruiz led police on a car chase, wrecked the car, and then shot Cpl. Nix when he could not get away.

Beach also reminded jurors about testimony from fellow gang members and police officers who said Ruiz participated in a drive-by shooting in Irving. He also led another Dallas police officer on a chase similar to the one with Cpl. Nix. A handgun was confiscated from his car that day.

In letters and phone conversations from jail, Ruiz expressed his frustration with prison life, guards and his circumstances.

“[Expletive] them people. [Expletive] that jury. Who gives a [expletive] about them?” Beach read from transcript of a recorded phone call Ruiz made from jail.

“By your verdict today when you do justice, you are going to re-affirm for...all the other police officers in the city that it's worth it,” Beach said. “It does matter.”