PORTSMOUTH — A Scioto County jury found David Hamilton guilty Friday in the Feb. 21 stabbing death of former Ironton resident Jonathan Jackson.

Hamilton, 28, had been accused in the stabbing death of Jackson at the Miller Manor Apartments on Kinker Drive in Wheelersburg. Jackson, 20, had been living in Wheelersburg, but was originally from Ironton.

After more than four hours of deliberation, the jury found Hamilton guilty on six of the seven counts against him including aggravated murder, murder and aggravated burglary.

After the verdict was read, Judge William T. Marshall immediately sentenced Hamilton to 30 years to life in prison.

According to police and court testimony, a struggle between Hamilton and Jackson started during the early morning hours of Feb. 21 at around 1:30 a.m. at the Miller Manor Apartments.

First starting inside an apartment unit, the struggle made its way across the yard to a nearby parking lot where Jackson was stabbed numerous times. He was found dead at the scene by local EMS officials a short time later.

Hamilton had been on the run for nearly 36 hours after police tracked him down by following calls made to his ex-girlfriend —­ the person Jackson was with that night.

When Jackson went to the woman’s apartment to retrieve something, Hamilton was already inside waiting.