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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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Another week, another story of some git in Florida taking to his guns to kill unarmed kids. What is wrong with people in Florida? No matter what the topic is, Florida shows its backside to the entire world. Has anyone put up enter at your own risk signs at the state lines yet? They should.
Yes, because shooting unarmed teens and then taking off is acting responsibly. This is getting way out of hand where anyone can shoot anyone anywhere and claim self defense. How is shooting at teens who are un-armed self defense in any stretch of the imagination?
He can claim whatever he wants. I don't think it's going to fly though.
In this case even an ALL WHITE grand jury jury will indict him and an ALL WHITE jury will convict him. As I said before, the guy HAD options: roll up his windows and crank up Randy Travis, drive away or call the police if it was that loud.
Yeah, that loud music. It's really dangerous......
I'm sure the shooter will say it was self defense, but let's get real---he could have driven away. I hope nobody else makes him mad again soon.
i hate to say this, but that white man is part of the"hidden" culture in the South, while it is dwindling, there are still many who think they are better than others, wonder when it's gonna click that they are not
this fella is no responsible gun owner sounds like he is a murderer, if anyone is dead
Punk Ass disrespectful fn kids! They are all the same. Their loud music thumping out of their car, (which is illegal) you can't even hear your self talk. You ask them nicely to turn it down and they mouth off and say FU. He should have just dropped a grenade in the car. F**C them all.
KickAz, you sound just like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino..only with less heart and mind. Do you really suppose the shooter asked nicely? Or did he tell them? I hear loud music from other peoples cars EVERY TIME I drive and it's not just kids now is it?
Rednecks out of control. My goodness, I guess he will say that he felt threatened and his life was in danger, therefore stand your ground law will set him free. What a great state.
No responsible gun owner does and idiotic thing like this.....the guy is an idiot and shouldn't be allowed to own a gun....it's imbeciles like this that is causing us to loose our right's ......this guy is a freaking moron
Murder - clear cut. He shot at them IN their car (so the stand your ground when they were NOT approaching him is bogus), then he sprayed their cars with 8-9 bullets, THEN he Fled the scene...THAT last part is what will damn him the most. He FLED the scene rather than wait for police to show up.
How easy would it have been to just skip the confrontation and firing 8 or 9 bullets part and just drive away? That's the part of the story that gets me, your at a gas station idiot, just drive away.
"Shut the F up you old fat, white..." Bang bang..arrgg.ugh.
In all seriousness, he shouldn't have shot at them, or even acknowledged them.
Rest in peace kid.
this is another example of individual seeing a percieved threat from citizens who happen to be black while unarmed. loud music is not a crime in most states and municipalities, they do not have to turn their music down because gun boy wants them too. the coward goes to a hotel bangs his girlfriend wakes up sees police are looking for the shooter of teenagers hops in his car and flees. his lawyer is assuming that when the so callled truth according to this criminal comes out he will be vindicated. this stand your ground law has become a joke, any nut with a gun and an attitude can shoot anyone black, white or whatever and claim he felt threatened. he walked over to their car, invaded their space but he's the victim? the person he killed did not have control of the music, he was a passenger in the car, in the backseat so how was he a threat to anyone. so now he claims they had a shotgun, if that is true why did he leave the scene or area before law enforcement arrived? not only that why did'nt he call police and report the incident? the death penalty is warranted in this case. this was a premeditated act he went over to their car with the intent to kill them.
how Sad !!! thats why some people cannot carry concealed weapon !!
disagreement can get someone killed !!!!!!!
So the teans were there first and Mr. Dunn pulled up along side and didn't like the loud music? Couldn't he just find another parking spot? I hope he enjoys his future roommate at the Big House. Hopefully he'll have a date with "Old Sparky". He's not a responsible gun owner. He's and idiot acting tough with a gun.
Now lets show some pic of Jordan Russell Davis showing how innocent he was . Some pics that are years old so Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton could get on there band wagon. Spike Lee can give out the address. Michelle Williams could go on another psychotic rant.
Yeah, because PLMWB (Playing Loud Music While Black) should be a capital offense, jackwagon...
Let's reverse this and pretend, the shooter was a black gentleman and the car was full of white teenagers, it would have been called a drive by shooting. Let's not hold these ridiculous double standards.
Also, I am a gun owner, I don't bring my gun with me and wave it around willy nilly. 99% of the time it is kept under lock and key. I don't see a reason to carry a handgun with me 24/7. Guns are lethal weapons and while I agree people have every right to own one, but I don't think people need to carry it with them everywhere they go.
So your able to predict where and when someone might attack you??? You should carry at ALL times!
He's not even trying to argue that the kids attacked him or anything? He's not disputing the main point that he simply opened fire on a car full of teenagers?
It sounds like the teen he killed wasn't even outside the car. It doesn't sound like there was a threatening altercation at all.
It happened at a gas station, so there should be video footage of the entire thing.
But it sounds like he told them to turn it down, they didn't, he emptied a gun into the car, and drove off.
Take one look at that man's face, and tell me why he's allowed to carry a gun. What ever happened to Catch 22? You can have a gun, as long you don't want one. Sheesh!
Car full of young negro males, being rude as usual, vs. one middle aged guy asking them not to intrude on others? Very easy for the youths to act agressively.
Evolution never sleeps.
Oh, I get it, jackwagon--the mere POSSIBILITY that the "blah" youths COULD have gotten aggressive justified shooting at them? Good Lord, I hope YOU don't own a gun if that's your mentality...
So what? I see cars full of aggressive Caucasians blasting Metallica daily...I'm not going to shoot them if I disagree with their choice of music...I'll call the police. It's a public space therefore NOT his domain. Even if he did ask nicely it's their right to flip him the bird. Rude or not. This guy is SO lucky that was not my son...I would certainly be in jail for murder.
And the defending the indefensible begins.....
The whole story is not out yet. Was Dunn threatened after he asked the teens to turn down the music? Did they approach him? We need the details before reaching a conclusion. He certainly should have waited for the police after the shooting. At any rate it seems it was not premeditated.
Doesn't matter....why was he asking them to turn down the music? He SHOULD have called the police and left it at that. That is what 911 is for. You don't need any more details than that. The shooter was the aggressor.
Well....we know that all the people were in the car when he shot...all the bullet holes were in the car. This stinks..... and this guys reactions, leaving the scene, fleeing the hotel once they thought they might be sought after.....its all proves he felt guilty or at the very least.....like he needed to run. By your logic, maybe he shoulda drew on the cops that were there to arrest him....if he felt "Threatened" LOL.
If he hadn't driven off, I'd be willing to consider giving him the benefit of the doubt. But he did, and that pretty much closes the case.
BS, Procrustes--the facts are already known. he shot INTO a car from which NO ONE came out to "threaten" him. Case closed...
Yeah. All the kids were in the car. They had no weapons. He just unloaded his weapon in their direction and drove off.
I can't see where there's room for any extenuating circumstances.
I don't see how any "responsible" gun owner would start blasting away in this instance. The shooter had other options. He could simply have called the police...I too carry a weapon for self defense but I am most certainly NOT going to tell someone to turn down their music in a public place. That is a job for the police to handle...not his business. Secondly, after discharging his weapon he should have STAYED put! Panic does not cut it for me. I too have fired my weapon in self defense on previous occasions and I stayed put until the police got there. Who knows what was going through this guys mind, but he most certainly was NOT fit to carry a weapon in public. Maybe he because the kids were black he decided that Two Chainz didn't sound like Van Halen?!?!?! Anyway, his defense is WEAK at best and I would like to see him indicted for second degree murder and face 25 years to life for his crime. Make NO mistake about it, this was a crime.
This guy is a TOTAL IDIOT!!....there is NO good reason to react like that outside someone pulling a gun on you first. You know he realized he was wrong right when he did it...otherwise he might-a stuck around and reported what happened to the police, like a responsible gun owner. The only good news in this story is that this guy will not be allowed to own firearms after this.....one less idiot with a gun and a Dirty Harry Complex.....Good Ridence to Bad Rubbish.
He is not a responsible gun owner, just another freak and as a responsible gun owner I am disgusted at his attorneys statement. Justifiable use of a weapon does not include leaving the scene after shooting someone inside of a car after an exchange of words. Kids inside a car with loud music and he felt in danger, he is either a liar or a no balls panzy with a big mouth. From the fact he drove off I would say he is both though, have fun in prison. Hopefully Florida has the death penalty but not until he gets to @!$%# himself and piss his pants the first time he gets to meet the general population and they have their way with him a few times.
Let's save some tax payer's money and just execute the guy! Keep it simple!
Look at him. Redneck gun worshiper. I'll bet his favorite musician is Ted Nugent. He belongs to the NRA. And hates Obama.
I'd like to sitting in the jury box when his case comes up.
This has nothing really to do with being a redneck gun worshiper. I'm black and do NOT leave my house without my .45 M1911A1. I also like my guns...my M4 Carbine, my H&k MP5D, my Sig Saur P226, etc. I DON'T belong to the NRA and I don't like Obama, I don't like RAP and I don't like Heavy Metal and I ride a big loud motorcycle...Whats your freaking point?
Rap kills!