RALEIGH, N.C. — The mood in the courtroom was different Wednesday after Matthew Grant was convicted of first-degree murder.

The family of the victim, Deputy Mark Tucker, said prayers.

"It's just a huge burden that's lifted at this point ," said Dan Tucker, the victim's brother.

Dan Tucker says his family prayed for Grant's family.

"It's a no-win situation for anybody. We didn't look at this as a win yesterday," Tucker said.

Dan Tucker embraced Grant's grandparents when it was all over.

So did other members of the family, such as Tucker's widow, Patricia.

Gail and Dave Grant, the grandparents, released this statement: "You cannot know how much it meant to us to have Mark's son reach out to us. His sons never should have had to lose the dad who meant so much to them so early in their lives. Patricia Tucker is an amazing woman with deep faith in God and she has been an example and an inspiration to us ."

Tucker said that he understood the family would have a hard time.

"I wish them the best," Tucker said. "They're going to have a hard time getting over it just like we did. I hate that it had to turn out the way it did. But it was all Matthew Grant's choice ."

Now the jury's choice will be whether Matthew Grant dies or spends his life behind bars.

"It doesn't get any more serious than life and death and that's where we are," Tucker said.

The Grants hope that their grandson will not receive a death sentence.

"We pray... that he will not get the death penalty and that he will be able to find a meaningful life in prison," they said in a statement.