Jordan Davis Shooting: Michael Dunn Guilty of 1st-Degree Murder in ‘Loud Music’ Trial

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Jurors found Michael Dunn guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday (Oct.1) in the 2012 shooting of 17-year-old Jordan Davis.

Dunn, who is white, fired 10 shots into a SUV outside of a convenience store after having an argument with a carload of black teens over their loud “thug” music in November 2012. Three of the 10 shots fatally struck Davis, piercing his liver, a lung and his aorta. His three friends were not harmed.

The jury reached its verdict Wednesday after more than five hours of deliberation.

Prosecutors say Michael Dunn shot with intent to kill when he fired 10 times into an SUV carrying Davis and three of his friends in November 2012.

Dunn has argued that he shot at the vehicle because he thought Davis had a weapon and feared for his life, but the prosecution has alleged Dunn was the aggressor and pointed out he continued firing at the vehicle even after the teens fled.

After the verdict, Davis’ mother, Lucia McBath, and father, Ronald Davis, expressed their gratitude for the verdict that represented justice for their son.

McBath commented that the verdict also serves as justice for “Trayvon and for all the nameless faces and children and people that will never have a voice.” She was referring to Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teenager killed earlier the same year by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, who was acquitted in the death.

“Words cannot express our joy but also our great sorrow because … we know that Jordan has received his justice,” she said. “We know that Jordan’s life and legacy will live on for others, but at the same time, we’re very saddened by the life that Michael Dunn will continue to live. We are saddened for his family, for his friends and the community that will continue to suffer by his actions.”

Davis’ father, Ron, told reporters, “We must do a better job of loving each other.”

Dunn was previously convicted of three counts of attempted second-degree murder in February and already faces at least 60 years in prison.

The jury in the first trial deadlocked on the first-degree murder count, which led prosecutors to retry him in this case.

Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, which means Dunn now faces a mandatory life sentence. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 17.

(Photo Credit: Twitter)

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