After deliberating for more than 30 hours, a jury found Michael Dunn, a white man who killed an unarmed black teen over loud music, guilty on three counts of attempted murder, for shooting into a car full of teenagers.
Jurors were deadlocked on the most serious charge of first degree murder which left Jordan Davis, 17, dead in 2012, after an argument broke over loud music at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida.
State Attorney Angela Corey, following the verdict said, her office would retry Dunn on the first degree murder charge. “Justice for Jordan Davis is as important as it is for any victim,” she said.
According to reports, Dunn showed little emotion as the verdicts were read.
Each attempted second degree murder conviction carries a minimum of 20 years in prison, while the fourth charge on which he was found guilty – firing into an occupied car – carries a maximum of 15 years.
Prosecutors argued before the jury that Dunn fired 10 shots into the car of teenagers, nine hitting the SUV. Davis, the only teen struck, was hit three times and died shortly after.
Dunn claimed self-defense, testifying that he feared for his life and he saw a firearm pointed at him. Detectives found no weapon in the teens’ vehicle.
“The defendant didn’t shoot into a car full of kids to save his life. He shot into it to save his pride,” Assistant State Attorney John Guy told jurors. “Jordan Davis didn’t have a weapon, he had a big mouth.”
Dunn will be sentenced next month.
Jordan’s father, Ron Davis, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, noting that Dunn faces 60 years or more in prison for the attempted murder charges.
“He is going to learn that he must be remorseful for the killing of my son, that it was not just another day at the office. My son will never be just another day at the office where (Dunn) can leave the scene and be stoic,” according to news reports.
