A man was convicted of murdering another man by shooting him in the chest, head and neck after an argument at an Orlando hotel.
An Orange County jury found 35-year-old Jackson Charles guilty of Second Degree Murder (with a Firearm) and Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon after he shot and killed a man in an Orlando hotel lobby in 2021.
On June 2, 2021, the defendant and the victim, 30-year-old Randolph Chamberlin, got into a physical confrontation in the lobby of the Days Inn hotel in the 3300 block of South Orange Blossom Trail.
Charles entered the hotel lobby, closely followed by Chamberlin. The defendant retrieved a firearm from his bag and the two men began to argue and push each other. During the altercation, Charles shot Chamberlin four times: once in the chest and three times in the head and neck.
A hotel surveillance camera captured the entire incident on video. A hotel clerk who witnessed the altercation recognized the defendant and the hotel manager identified Charles as a frequent guest. Charles left the hotel following the shooting and witnesses saw him running from the parking lot and down Orange Blossom Trail, traveling west.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for Charles’ arrest and on June 9, 2024, authorities located and arrested him.
During the trial, the defendant claimed self-defense in the shooting. However, video evidence showed Charles as the primary aggressor who initiated contact with the victim. Additionally, since the defendant is a convicted felon, the law requires him to retreat from threats before engaging in physical contact.
After a five-day trial, a jury found Charles guilty of Second Degree Murder (with a Firearm) with a special finding of discharge causing death and Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon with a special finding of actual possession.
According to the State Attorney’s office, he will be sentenced later this year and faces a possible life sentence.
