A former Army Ranger was convicted Wednesday in the shooting death of a roommate and fellow Ranger he claimed had committed suicide.

The jury convicted Gary Smith of second-degree murder _ depraved heart _ in the killing of Michael McQueen II, but declined to convict him of first-degree murder. That means that instead of facing a life sentence, Smith will receive no more than 30 years in prison.

Smith stared straight ahead as the verdict was read, and there was little reaction in the courtroom from the families of Smith or McQueen. Judge Eric M. Johnson revoked Smith’s bond, and Smith was led away in handcuffs by sheriff’s deputies.

Jurors deliberated for about six hours.

McQueen, 22, died in September 2006 of a gunshot to the head in the apartment he shared with Smith in Gaithersburg. The men served two tours together in Afghanistan in an intelligence unit with the Rangers.

Smith, 25, steadfastly insisted that he did not kill McQueen, but changed his story repeatedly before admitting to investigators that he was in the apartment when McQueen died.

He told police he panicked and dumped the gun into a nearby lake. His attorneys said he was scared because there was marijuana in the apartment and the gun was his.

Prosecutors said Smith killed McQueen but didn’t suggest a motive, though they said Smith idolized McQueen and was upset when he said he planned to move out of the apartment.

Smith’s attorney suggested McQueen’s death was a suicide, and that McQueen was despondent over issues such as his job prospects and a breakup with a girlfriend.

Forensic experts testifying for the prosecution said blood evidence showed that Smith was standing next to McQueen when he died. Defense experts disputed that and said the way McQueen had been shot in the head was consistent with a suicide, not murder.

Smith and McQueen met during their training in Georgia, but the strength of their friendship was in dispute. Smith’s attorneys claim they were good friends, while prosecutors said they were more casual acquaintances.

McQueen moved to the Washington area in the summer of 2006 with plans to start college.

Smith, who grew up in Montgomery County, was back in the area but he was having trouble dealing with the effects of his military service, which included a tour in Iraq. He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

McQueen agreed to room with Smith only when an earlier arrangement fell through, according to McQueen’s family. His father, Mike McQueen, is the New Orleans bureau chief for The Associated Press.