A 33-year-old man authorities described as a transient was found guilty on Jan. 15 of killing a former professional baseball player in downtown Los Angeles last year, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has announced.

Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before finding the defendant, Billy Morales, guilty of the second-degree murder of 55-year-old Rodney Craig.

The panel also found Morales guilty of the special allegation that he personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon — which was a knife.

Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Mac said Craig, who was living on the streets at the time of the homicide, attempted to stay at a homeless encampment on Aug. 17, 2013. A group of transients living at the encampment did not let Craig stay, according to Mac.

As he left, Craig allegedly tried to kick a dog, the prosecutor said. Morales and a suspect identified Anthony Johnson chased after him and began kicking and punching the victim. Evidence presented at trial showed that Morales fatally stabbed Craig once in the chest.

Johnson, 24, pleaded no contest to one count of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and was sentenced in August to six years in state prison. Morales faces a possible sentence of at least 16 years to life in state prison.

A sentencing date will be determined later. The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.