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Subscribe to RSSThe mother of teenager shot during argument over loud music called the deadly outburst "unconscionable." WTLV's Heather Crawford reports.
A Florida gun collector has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge alleging that he opened fire on a car full of unarmed teenagers, killing one, in an altercation that police say stemmed from loud music.
Michael David Dunn, 45, acted "as any responsible firearms owner would have," his lawyer said of the Friday evening incident at a gas station outside a convenience store in Jacksonville, Fla.
Dunn and his girlfriend were in Jacksonville for his son's wedding when they pulled up in their car next to the teens. Police allege that while the girlfriend was in the store, Dunn told Jordan Russell Davis, 17, and his three friends to turn down their music.
"It was loud," Jacksonville homicide Lt. Rob Schoonover said of the teens' music. "They admitted that. That's not a reason for someone to open fire."
After an exchange of words, Dunn began shooting with a handgun, Schoonover said.
"Nobody else in that vehicle was struck; it was just our victim [Davis], which was lucky because the vehicle was shot eight or nine times," Schoonover said.
Davis was in the back seat and was struck twice, reported The Orlando Sentinel.
Dunn and his girlfriend drove off and spent the night at their hotel, according to Schoonover, but witnesses took down his license plate number. Police arrested him Saturday morning at his home in Satellite Beach, Fla., on one charge of murder and three charges of attempted murder.
"His side of the story is he felt threatened and that is the reason he took action," Schoonover said.
On Monday, Dunn — a gun collector who shot at local gun ranges, according to authorities — pleaded not guilty in Brevard County court, with his attorney describing his actions as self-defense.
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"Once all the facts come out, that what really happened is known, it will be very clear that Mr. Dunn acted responsibly and as any responsible firearms owner would have acted under these same circumstances," said his attorney, Robin Lemonidis, reported FirstCoastNews.com, the website for NBC station WTLV in Jacksonville.
Dunn's 20-year-old daughter, Rebecca, told FirstCoastNews.com, "he just reacted," adding that his family was rallying behind him.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
Michael Dunn is accused of the shooting death of Jordan Davis.
"Everyone in his life loves him and everyone who met him, all of my friends are praying for him," she said.
Dunn, who had been in Brevard County Jail after his arrest, was transferred back to Duval County, where the shooting happened, on Tuesday. His girlfriend won't face any charges.
"When she came out [of the convenience store], she asked him, 'What's going on?'" Schoonover said. "Supposedly his statement was, 'I just fired at these kids.' I don't know if he knew that he struck anyone in the vehicle. The next morning, I guess when they woke up in the hotel and saw on the news that someone was killed, that's when they got in their car and fled."
Davis, the victim, lived with his father in Florida, but was to be buried in Georgia — where he was born — on Saturday, reported jacksonville.com.
Davis' mother, Lucia McBath, who lives outside of Atlanta, asked that her son's death not be thought of as a hate crime.
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"We don't know where he was or what kind of dark place he was in at that moment, but something snapped in that man. Something snapped in him, so we are not looking at it as the hate crime because that's not going to honor Jordan," McBath told FirstCoastNews.com.
She said the fact that Dunn drove off after shooting Davis was "unconscionable."
Davis, a high school junior, had just gotten a job at McDonald's, picking up some extra cash after work, his mom said. At Thanksgiving the day before his death, he said he was thankful to God for his family, his mom told FirstCoastNews.com.
"He was just so excited and happy" for everything in his life, she said.
She said the family is starting a foundation in his memory to help at-risk children.
"It didn't matter to Jordan if you needed the help, you needed the support — he was going to give it to you no matter what side of the tracks you came from. So we feel it's really important to honor that in him," she said.
Ron Davis, the victim's father, added: "I was looking forward to as a parent to being there when he got married, being there when he found love. All the things that I'm not going to be able to do is what pains me."
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These incidents happen only because a gun is handy, making killers of what could otherwise be more or less ordinary citizens. As guns continue to proliferate, these avoidable and absurd incidents have and will continue to proliferate.
The "wild west" is being resurrected. People will be shot just for looking at someone or accidentally bumping into someone carrying a gun, who just decides to take offense.
While some perpetrators may indeed just be ordinary citizens, they may be temporarily and un-ordinarily disturbed, as seemingly happened in this case. Ordinary people have ups and downs.
Years ago, there was an advertising campaign to prevent teens being tempted to steal a car, because the car was unlocked and the keys were in it. I believe the slogan was "Save a teenager...lock your car." Adapted to this terrible incident it could be "Save an ordinary citizen...don't let them carry a loaded gun."
(c) 2012
Celtic....when the victim is White and the perps are persons of color its FRONT PAGE ....what country do you live in? We used to say that all the time....maybe not so much now.....but the case was...always....if a White person committed a crime it was on page 72. If a Black person did the same thing it was on the front page, page 2,3 AND 4, in Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday AND Friday's edition.
Celtic is a race baiting troll. Flag and ignore it.
At least the Jacksonville PD had the good sense to arrest the man, trigger happy as he seems to be. Threatened by loud music huh? Riiiiight.
He will not have the excuse that Zimmerman has used claiming to be attacked. What a hateful evilperson. Shooting some one because of loud music. I hope he rots in hell forever. He lloks like a drunk.
bewu, don't lump all drunks into that psychotic category--some of them are quite huggy when they're looped!
Ughhhh..... Another jerk abusing guns and the use of force laws that makes it that much harder for the rest of us law abiding citizens.
Another gun toting wing nut who believes the 2nd Amendment guarantees the right to shoot people. We can thank the NRA and their irresponsible stand your ground legislative initiative for this confusion.
Yours is the dumbest post I've encountered in the thread so far.
By far.
But hats off for getting all of the right buzzwords into your opinion!
So long as they use the words "NRA", "nut," and "stand your ground," they figure they can win any argument.
Check his blood alcohol levels as well. Agitated over loud music if it was bothering him that much he should've simple moved his car to another spot.
WARNING: Rant ahead :-) -->
Another crazy American with a gun killing innocent people, how is this news? Pretty well happens every single day in the US. What you need is more guns (that is sarcasm BTW for those who agree). Sadly, the US is spreading this insanity north of the border.
The NRA and ilk have been interfering in Canadian politics the last few years helping strip away the gun registration act in this country. Our murder rate has gone up substantially since then. But of course guns don't kill people...
No matter how you read the 2nd Amendment, it is impossible to justify gun ownership in the US as it stands at this moment. Unless of course you are some cold slimy NRA spokesperson or in the arms / munitions business (Death is our business and business is extremely good!)
Oh, and "You're welcome" from your horrible neighbor to the south for protecting your ass for the last 50 years with our military. Should we send you a bill?
Also, "You're welcome" for also being between you and Mexico.
Stay up there and let good hard men with guts and fortitude that value human rights and preserving liberty do the hard work.
You can tap some maple trees. It's cute.
I'm a white guy and this shooter just looks like a racist that would shoot first and think later, if he thinks at all. Right wingers unite!
Go NRA! Go Concealed Carry! You show them what you are made of boys! You have reached another PR. A new high for destroying society as we know it.
Yea, it will be interesting to see their "spin" on this one.
Blaming the NRA and concealed carry laws for the actions of one unhinged man in a situation you didn't witness?
Talk about the breakdown of society! Your lack of education and reasoning skills is terrifying!
Kamaaina - You and your people will be the undoing of America.
Here comes Jesse, Al, Barry, The DOJ, AG, to crack down on this racist!
To all the folks who say this young man died because of the "stand your ground law", you're incorrect. This man would have done what he did regardless of the law as he also demonstrated by running from the scene, also a violation of the law but that law didn't prevent him from doing so either did it? Laws cannot be expected to prevent crimes for the most part. What they do provide is a means and cause for the police and prosecutors to arrest and prosecute you if you don't abide by them. The stand your ground law did not cause this shooting, or protect him fom arrest. The stand your ground law does not provide him with a free pass to do what he did. If it did, he would not be in jail.
CNorton I think you miss the point.
The fact that there is a stand your ground law gives the ill-informed a false sense of security, when it comes to pulling out a gun and shooting someone, that they will not be prosecuted. This causes some to not think twice about shooting at someone.
We elect legislators to create laws. These legislators need to have enough forsite to understand all the ramifications (including the unintended) of a passed law..
First,
Thanks for understanding that it's possible to disagree with me and other without calling them names. That's a rare trait nowadays.
Secondly,
I still disagree. While I understand your point and think it has merit as an argument, it's just not the way I see it. People know good and well that this isn't how stand your ground works. If this man honestlty believed that then he would not have fled the scene. He's trying it now because a lawyer advised him to use it as a defense after he was arrested. There's nothing we can do about a lawyer trying to warp the interpretation of any law in a defense argument. They do the same thing every day with the insanity defense and diminished mental capacity. That being said, that is why I do not believe that the law needs to be changed. Even though, as with any law, it is bound to be interpreted the wrong way at some point and let someone off of the hook, I believe it will prove true to protect many more law abiding citizens against prosecution for lawful self defense over the course of the years than it will let violent murderers and yahoos off the hook. I make the same argument for the stand your ground law as I do for the insanity defense: Yes, lawyers will attempt to abuse this law as a valid defense at times, but we still need it more than we need to get rid of it. I would not be willing to send thousands of people with mental health issues to the electric chair just to prevent small percentages of abuse. This was one of two high profile incidents on the national media that we've heard of this year simply because it was a white on black crime and "stand your ground" is trying to be used by both of their lawyers as a defense. Two incidents in all of Florida. Now while I know the "2 to 2.5 million defensive uses each year" argument is highly debatable, I will say this, in the same time span, there have been 3 valid uses of the stand your ground law right here in this county where I live in South Carolina. Not the state, county. Where the debate on the number of uses comes in is that people do not consider it a defensive use if the gun is not actually fired and the perp injured or killed by that gunfire. I disagree with that. In the three incidents I refer too the perp retreated when confronted with the gun. The stand your ground law emboldened these would be victims to have the courage to defend themselves without fear of prosecution as well as the perps know that in this state the gun owner can and will use it because of this law so they do not assume you're bluffing. 13 years ago I was approached at the gas station by a man with a knife. As he walked towards me I started drawing my gun. He turned around and walked away before I even got it fully out of the holster and extended. All he saw was my hand on the grip and that was all it took. So in my mind, did the stand your ground law come into play there? Yes, in some states I would have had to let him actually stab or attempt to stab me before I could fire. I also argue that this was a situation that should have been included in the "defensive uses each year" category because it directly reduced the number of violent crimes committed each year by preventing that situation.
so let me guess..he was afraid he was going to be killed by the musical notes?? this is ridiculous that he can claim he felt threatend by music.
WE have ourselves another Zimmerman here. AT least this time I do not htink race was a factor.
This guy STARTED the argument with a bunch of KIDS and then pulled his gun and SHOT at (8-9 shots he fired) them when they were IN their car!! How is it self defense when the kids never left the car.,....PLUS, why did he not just GO into the store???
This guy is a murderer and liar just like the other
Again it's the crazies of Florida, the State of Jeb Bush for GOP nominee 2016.
What in the heck does the GOP, the good people of Florida, and Jeb Bush have to do with this moron shooting at kids? Nothing. No more than what the Democrats personally have to do with the daily gang murders and shootings in Chicago. You think the far right is so bad but you're just like them. An extremist. It's like listening to Archie Bunker and George Jefferson go at it while oblivious to the fact that, in the end, they're one and the same.
And although there is no way to justify this man's actions, I'm sure some of you are certainly going to try. Maybe you'll use the shooters race, the victims' race, stand your ground, the 2nd amendment, your hatred of loud music coming from cars, the Obama Administration, The First 48 on A&E, I'm not sure yet. But I'm anxious to read your posts.
I'm not going to try. I think he's a criminal and should be locked up for a very long time.
Another perfect example of someone losing their life simply because a firearm was present...
Another perfect example of someone losing their life because an idiot was present.
An idiot with an all too available weapon of mass destruction to another human being
A handgun is a weapon of mass destruction.
Genius.
If you think a handgun is a weapon of mass destruction, then you need a better education.
Another coward that thinks having a gun makes them a man.
I have to agree with you on this one.
You know what?
Reading comments like yours, I sincerely hope that they find in the investigation that the losers in that suv threatened this man and flashed a handgun at him.
Perfect example for the need for a personal, focused EMP device. Rather than engage in deadly force, simply kill the offending electronics.
The next best thing, and currently actually available, is a high powered CB or Ham radio. Simply key up your microphone with the heat running and your RF will override their radio, allowing you to call all manner of unwanted and unsavory attention to them.
Just imagine what you would say...........remember, the voice will be coming from THEIR car at full volume.......with *NO WAY TO SHUT IT OFF*.
I've quieted many a "boom box car" this way...........the occupant's reactions are too priceless for words. One bunch actually got out and ran away, leaving the car in the middle of the road.
That's a hell of a lot more entertaining than reading about yet another punk popped by someone who's had enough of these wanna-be thugs.
Responsible gun owner......my ass.
Responsible gun owners don't spray a car with kids in it with 8 or 9 bullets
and just leave.........That's what's wrong with lax gun laws.....the nut behind the trigger.
Florida has lost its way. Very very sad. Guns and alcohol
What does this have to do with Florida, you ignoramus?
Guns, alcohol and shootings are freely available in every state. Jesus, what an idiotic comment!
Yet another gun owner with a grudge! LOL self defence from a stereo, just a stupid old fu#k.
This guy should fry. I don't care how loud the music was, it's not a good reason to shoot up the car.
What a Racist Chiken Sh!t. If it had been Lynyrd Synyrd playing to loud he would have told them to "turn it up" then pulled his Confederate flag out and had his girl flash her tah tahs. Why did he shoot and leave? because he was full of liquid courage. Take the gun away and hes just an old fat piece of white trash... Start stretching your A-HOLE now, cause bubba's gonna stretch it for ya. HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just what is wrong with some people...this is nuts you shoot at someone cause the music is loud, what a looser and i hope they throw the books at this idiot
Clear case of MURDER. He provoked the incident and should go to prison. So sad for the victim.