JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Jury selection is set for today in the second trial of man accused of first-degree murder in the death of a teenager during a 2012 dispute over loud music.
Jordan Davis, 17, died after Michael Dunn, 47, fired into the SUV in which Davis was a passenger.
Dunn was previously convicted of three counts of attempted second-degree murder and firing into an occupied vehicle, but jurors deadlocked on the charge of first-degree murder.
He has yet to be sentenced on the charges he was convicted of during the first trial, but faces up to 60 to 150 years in prison.
Davis’ attorney is seeking to move the trial away from Jacksonville citing widespread publicity about the case. Circuit Judge Russell Healey has said he will decide whether to move the trial during jury selection.
Dunn, a software developer from South Patrick Shores, fire ten shots from his 9 mm pistol into the SUV that held four teenagers including Davis. Dunn said he thought Davis had threatened him with a weapon, but police found no firearms in the SUV.
Davis was at the Jacksonville gas station after attending his son’s wedding. Dunn and the teens began arguing about loud hip hop music coming from the teen’s vehicle.
An attorney for Davis’ parents said the couple hopes the second trial will end with a first-degree murder conviction.
“Emotions are high. Many want to comment that this trial doesn’t mean as much, as Dunn is expected to face a minimum mandatory of 60 years in prison. That’s hurtful,” said John Phillips, the family lawyer for Davis’ parents, Lucy McBath and Ron Davis, told Florida Today.
“Dunn wasn’t just an attempted murderer that night. He killed a teenager. A son. A hope for a bright future for Ron and Lucy, full of a wedding, grandchildren and fulfilled dreams,” Phillips said.
Rebecca Dunn, Dunn’s daughter, told the newspaper that she supports her father.
“If the justice system truly works, then he should walk free – but in the end, no one truly wins. I’m just tired. I stopped speaking about it months ago because the whole situation is just really painful, and these past two years have been rough on my family,” she said.
