Yet another victim of a perceived thug ends up in jail

[JollyRoger]

A Florida man appeared in court on Wednesday to face charges in the shooting death of an apparently unarmed black teenager in a case putting Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law back under the U.S. media spotlight less than a year after the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Michael Dunn, 45, is being held without bail on charges of second-degree murder for the Friday night shooting of Jordan Davis, who was also 17.

According to authorities, Dunn pulled into the parking lot of a Jacksonville, Florida, gas station alongside the SUV where Davis and three friends, all of them young African Americans, were listening to music.

Dunn asked them to turn their music down and, after an apparent exchange of words with Davis, he produced a gun and fired eight or nine shots at the SUV. At least two of the bullets hit Davis, causing his death.

Dunn, who was in Jacksonville for his son's wedding, sped off after the shooting but he was arrested on Saturday in Brevard County, Florida, police said.

Dunn's lawyer, Robin Lemonidis, told reporters that someone in the SUV brandished a shotgun and Dunn opened fire on the vehicle in self-defense.

"It will be very clear that Mr. Dunn acted responsibly, and as any responsible firearms owner would have acted, under these same circumstances," Lemonidis said.

She could not be reached for further comment on Wednesday but appeared to indicate that Dunn will invoke Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law in his defense.

The law gives legal protection to anyone, anywhere, to use deadly force in a case where a person is attacked and believes his life or safety is in danger.

Police say no shotgun or other weapon was found in the SUV where Davis, a high school student, was shot and killed.

http://news.yahoo.com/shooting-death-black-teen-puts-florida-law-back-004720741.html

Looking forward to seeing this poor victim of an itchy trigger finger defended here.

 

[Formaldehyde]

He was just standing his ground against loud music which black youths apparently enjoy. That is a crime in Florida?

He has firearms and is very familiar with them. He owns firearms and he has since 3rd grade.

What more evidence does a white man need that he was in jeopardy of his life?

Dunn pulled out his gun and fired perhaps 9 shots into the vehicle, apparently not realizing that someone had been hit.

That sounds like a perfectly reasonable assumption to me. No wonder he just drove away and waited until the police found him 4 days later 180 miles away.

His attorney made some very compelling arguments explaining it all.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

How does this have anything to do with stand your ground laws? This seems to me like plain murder. Stand your ground laws allow you to defend yourself, not attack others.

 

[ace99]

This is what happens when you get rid of common law retreat requirements.

 

[bhsup]

Um, guys, he was arrested. Did you all not read that?

 

[_random_]

Goddammit Florida.

 

[Berzerker]

is this supposed to be Zimmerman II?

poor choice

 

[Crezth]

I'm failing to see what Dunn did wrong? He asked the ruffians to turn their music down and they refused. This is simply self-defense.

 

[Synobun]

I'm failing to see what Dunn did wrong? He asked the ruffians to turn their music down and they refused. This is simply self-defense.

10/10 would read again.

 

[Borachio]

I'm failing to see what Dunn did wrong? He asked the ruffians to turn their music down and they refused. This is simply self-defense.

Look. Plainly he wasn't acting in self-defence. Else how come he only killed one of the assailants? He should be prosecuted for rank incompetence, imo.

 

[Cutlass]

9 shots and one dead black teenager? Clearly this guy needs shooting lessons.

 

[JohnRM]

9 shots and one dead black teenager? Clearly this guy needs shooting lessons.

Oh wow, that is funny as hell, but true at the same time. I hate to say it, but if I were investigating this case, that could serve as evidence for me. If it can be shown that he was experienced with firearms and was a decent shooter, then that fact that he only killed one person with 8 or 9 shots would show that he was panicked, which reduces the potential degree of murder. If I were the defense, I'd be pushing for a manslaughter plea based on that fact crossed with the defendant's claim that he thought he saw a gun.

But, given that he drove away from the crime, I doubt he will get anything less than murder two.

 

[Formaldehyde]

is this supposed to be Zimmerman II?

poor choice

White man with concealed carry permit confronts, shoots, and kills unarmed black teenager who was minding his own business. Lawyer claims he was "standing his ground".

Oh wow, that is funny as hell, but true at the same time. I hate to say it, but if I were investigating this case, that could serve as evidence for me. If it can be shown that he was experienced with firearms and was a decent shooter, then that fact that he only killed one person with 8 or 9 shots would show that he was panicked, which reduces the potential degree of murder. If I were the defense, I'd be pushing for a manslaughter plea based on that fact crossed with the defendant's claim that he thought he saw a gun.

But, given that he drove away from the crime, I doubt he will get anything less than murder two.

I bet many people who think they are quite proficient at the use of handguns would do exactly the same thing. Even many cops have emptied their handguns without hitting a person in close proximity to them even once. Shooting at a person is quite different than shooting at a target, especially if you think they will likely shoot back.

Just because he was apparently "panicked" shouldn't have any influence at all on what crime he committed. Nor should unfounded speculation regarding whether or not someone was armed. Zimmerman was trying to allege the same thing with Martin, apparently just to get the cops to respond more quickly.

"It's coming right for us."

 

[woody60707]

Is JR going to post a story every time someone gets arrested for murder?

 

[RobAnybody]

The fact that he managed to hit someone proves he's not a bad guy. Bad guys can't shoot anyone even when they have machine guns or lasers.

 

[timtofly]

Only the stand your ground ones in FL.

Perhaps it was the sonic booming that threw some of the bullets of their intended target?

 

[Borachio]

But why, having "stood your ground", then drive off, and then not drive to the nearest police station?

Doesn't this damn him?

 

[Bugfatty300]

Probably because he just got mad and shot at them.

 

[Cutlass]

Oh wow, that is funny as hell, but true at the same time. I hate to say it, but if I were investigating this case, that could serve as evidence for me. If it can be shown that he was experienced with firearms and was a decent shooter, then that fact that he only killed one person with 8 or 9 shots would show that he was panicked, which reduces the potential degree of murder. If I were the defense, I'd be pushing for a manslaughter plea based on that fact crossed with the defendant's claim that he thought he saw a gun.

But, given that he drove away from the crime, I doubt he will get anything less than murder two.

It doesn't show he was panicked. It shows he's an incompetent moron.

 

[timtofly]

But why, having "stood your ground", then drive off, and then not drive to the nearest police station?

Doesn't this damn him?

Seems to me it was not even his ground to stand. He was on private property and the vehicle next to him "bugged" him enough to take an idiots stand. Depending on where he was, that could have been a bad idea.

Seems plausible that he had a pre-conceived notion that bringing a gun with him, might be useful.