Shooting of Jordan Davis

Map of Jacksonville, Florida
Time	7:30 pm
Date	November 23, 2012
Location	8251 Southside Boulevard,Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Participants	Michael Dunn (shooter)
Deaths	Jordan Davis
Charges	One count of first-degree murder Three counts of attempted second-degree murder One count of firing into a vehicle
Verdict	Guilty of first-degree murder Guilty of attempted second-degree murder (3 counts) Guilty of firing into a vehicle[1]

The shooting of Jordan Davis occurred on November 23, 2012, at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Jordan Russell Davis, a 17-year-old African American high school student, was fatally shot by Michael David Dunn, a 45-year-old software developer from Brevard County who was visiting the city for a wedding.^[2] The incident began when Dunn asked Davis and his companions to turn down the loud music^[3] that was being played in the vehicle in which Davis was a passenger. After the jury was unable to return a unanimous verdict on a charge of first-degree murder, the judge declared a mistrial on that count. Dunn was convicted, however, on three counts of attempted second-degree murder for firing at three other teenagers who were with Davis and one count of firing into a vehicle.^[4] None of the other teenagers were injured.

In closing arguments for the first trial, the defense lawyer for Michael Dunn cited the language of Florida's stand-your-ground law.^[5] Despite this, others have claimed that Florida's Stand Your Ground law did not play a role in the initial mistrial.^[6][7]

Dunn faced up to 75 years in prison for the four counts on which he was already convicted.^[1] Dunn's retrial for first-degree murder began the week of September 22, 2014.^[8] He was found guilty October 1, 2014, and was sentenced to a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole on October 17, 2014.^[9][10]

Shooting

On Friday, November 23, 2012, around 7:30 p.m., four teenage males (Leland Brunson, Jordan Davis, Tommie Stornes, and Tevin Thompson) stopped at the Gate gas station to buy gum and cigarettes. While the driver, Tommie Stornes, was inside making the purchase, Michael Dunn and girlfriend Rhonda Rouer pulled into the adjacent parking spot. Rouer left the car to purchase white wine and chips.^[11] She testified that Dunn told her, "I hate that thug music" before she left the car for the store, although Dunn claims he used the phrase "rap crap."^[12][13]

The bass from loud music playing in the teens' SUV started to shake both cars and bother Dunn, who asked for it to be turned down.^[11] Front seat passenger Tevin Thompson initially complied, but then Jordan Davis objected and Thompson turned the music back up.^[14] According to the other teens, Davis and Dunn continued to talk to each other, with Davis cursing and becoming "extremely upset" while Dunn remained relatively calm. Meanwhile, Stornes returned to the vehicle.^[11]

According to Dunn's testimony, Davis threatened to kill him, then opened his car door and pointed what appeared to be a shotgun at him.^[13] Dunn, who has a concealed weapons permit,^[2] took a handgun out of his glove compartment and started firing at Davis' door, hitting him in the legs, lungs, and aorta. As the SUV backed up to evade his gunshots, Dunn opened his own door and continued firing at the car, later testifying that he still feared for his safety as well as that of Rouer, who was to return to the vehicle imminently.^[15]

Investigators later searched the SUV and found no weapons. Dunn's attorney claimed that detectives did not search the area for a weapon for several days after the shooting.^[16] Davis' friends testified that he could not have opened his door because the child lock was set. Contrary to Dunn's claim that he mentioned the shotgun to her several times, Rouer testified that he never mentioned a gun either that night or the next day.^[13][14]

After the shooting, Stornes drove the SUV a short distance away to a nearby parking lot and stopped to find Davis "gasping for air."^[11] Rouer returned to Dunn's car and they went back to their hotel where they ordered pizza. Dunn did not contact the police. The next morning, Rouer saw a report about the shooting on the news, indicating that Jordan Davis had died. At her request, the couple abandoned their prior plans and headed straight home. On the drive home, Dunn testified he called a neighbor who works in law enforcement to arrange to speak to him about the shooting, but phone records indicate that the neighbor actually called him, and Rouer testified that the shooting was never mentioned during the call.^[17] Dunn returned to his home in Satellite Beach the following day at 10:30 a.m., where he was arrested, his license plate having been reported to police by an eyewitness.^[18][19][20]

Legal proceedings

Shortly after Davis's death, his parents, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, and some of the other vehicle occupants, filed civil complaints against Dunn. They were represented by John M. Phillips in wrongful death and defamation lawsuits against Dunn. The cases were settled for an undisclosed amount in January 2014. Dunn’s insurance company, Progressive Select Insurance, challenged its duty to cover the lawsuit, but dismissed its lawsuit in conjunction with the settlement. In his criminal trial, Dunn has been declared broke.^[21][22][23]

On February 15, 2014, after more than thirty hours of deliberation, the jury reached a guilty verdict, and Dunn was convicted on the four lesser counts, including three counts of attempted second-degree murder.^[4] Dunn could face up to 75 years in prison, with each attempted murder charge carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years and the firing into a vehicle charge carrying a maximum of 15.^[24]

The jury could not reach an agreement on Dunn's first-degree murder charge and a mistrial was called. Florida state attorney Angela Corey stated that her office will seek a retrial for this charge.^[25] Dunn's attorney subsequently requested that sentencing on the other four counts (on which Dunn was already convicted) be delayed until after Dunn is retried for murder.^[26]

Jury selection in Dunn's retrial began on September 22, 2014, and opening statements took place on September 25.^[8] Dunn was found guilty on October 1, 2014 at the conclusion of the retrial.^[27] He was sentenced to life without parole on October 17. Dunn also received an additional 90 years of prison for three counts of attempted murder and firing into a vehicle.^[28]

Reactions

Michael Dunn's former neighbor, Charles Hendrix, said he was not surprised by Dunn's behavior.^[29][30] Hendrix commented on Dunn, whom he described as arrogant and controlling, adding that Dunn's ex-wives told him that Dunn was violent and abusive toward them, although he never personally witnessed this.^[30] Hendrix spoke of a previous discussion where Dunn asked him if he knew anyone who would "take care of" someone who infuriated him in an unrelated incident, and Hendrix interpreted further discussion as Dunn wanting to send a hit on this person.^[29]

"I'm in constant contact with Tracy Martin, Trayvon's father, and I text Sybrina [Trayvon's mother] all the time and I just want to let them know, every time I get justice for Jordan, it's going to be justice for Trayvon, for us", Ron Davis said.^[31] Ron Davis said he wanted to confront Michael Dunn in jail about his son's murder.^[32][33]

Rebecca Dunn, Michael Dunn's daughter, defended her father's story, by her statement during an interview, "He is going to protect himself if he sees no other way then [sic] to bring out his gun, then that's what he's going to do."^[34][35] She described Dunn as "a good man. He's not a racist. He's very loving."^[24]

See also

• Crime in Florida

References

External links

• Arrest and Booking Report of Incident, michaeldunntrial.com; accessed February 23, 2014.