The Jordan Davis Case
On November 23, 2012, in Jacksonville, Florida, Jordan Davis, a 17-year-old student was shot and killed by Michael David Dunn, a 45-year-old software developer from Brevard County who was visiting the city for a wedding.
Around 7:30 pm on November 23, four African American teenagers stopped at the Gate gas station to buy gum and cigarettes. While the driver, Tommie Stornes, was making the purchase, Dunn and his girlfriend Rhonda Rouer pulled into the adjacent parking spot. According to the New York Times, Rouer claims Dunn said "I hate that thug music" before she left to make her purchase, although Dunn claims to have said "rap crap".
CBS News claims the bass from the teen's SUV started to shake both cars and Dunn asked for the music to be turned down. The passenger in the front seat, Tevin Thompson, turned the music down but Davis objected and Thompson turned the music back up. According to witnesses, Davis began cursing and seemed "extremely upset" at Dunn.
After Rouer returned to the car, Dunn claims Davis tried to threaten him, opened his car door and pointed a shotgun at him. Dunn, who had a concealed weapons permit, took a handgun from his glove compartment and started firing at Davis' door, striking his legs, lungs, and aorta. As the SUV backed up to evade the gun shots, Dunn left his vehicle and continued firing at the car, later testifying that he feared for his safety.
CNN reported that investigators later searched the SUV and found no weapons. Perhaps the most shocking element of the case occurred after the shooting, when Rouer returned to Dunn's car and they went back to their hotel to order pizza. Dunn did not contact the police. The next morning, after Rouer saw news reports of the shooting, Dunn and Rouer decided to head home, where he was soon arrested after his license plate was reported to police by an eyewitness.
Trial and Verdict
On February 15, a jury convicted Dunn on four charges, but could not decide on the charge of murder. Dunn was found guilty of three charges of attempted second-degree murder and one charge of firing into a vehicle. After the mistrial on the murder charge, State Attorney Angela Corey said prosecutors would press for a new trial in Duval county on the murder charge.
Comparison to Trayvon Martin case
As the story was broadcasted nationwide, several people believed the Dunn trial echoed George Zimmerman's trial for the shooting of Trayvon Martin, just 120 miles away in Sanford, Florida. The Martin family showed their support for the Davis family, saying his killing his a reminder that in Florida, "racial profiling and stereotypes" may fuel the illegitimate fear "and the shooting and killing of young teenagers."
Around 7:30 pm on November 23, four African American teenagers stopped at the Gate gas station to buy gum and cigarettes. While the driver, Tommie Stornes, was making the purchase, Dunn and his girlfriend Rhonda Rouer pulled into the adjacent parking spot. According to the New York Times, Rouer claims Dunn said "I hate that thug music" before she left to make her purchase, although Dunn claims to have said "rap crap".
CBS News claims the bass from the teen's SUV started to shake both cars and Dunn asked for the music to be turned down. The passenger in the front seat, Tevin Thompson, turned the music down but Davis objected and Thompson turned the music back up. According to witnesses, Davis began cursing and seemed "extremely upset" at Dunn.
After Rouer returned to the car, Dunn claims Davis tried to threaten him, opened his car door and pointed a shotgun at him. Dunn, who had a concealed weapons permit, took a handgun from his glove compartment and started firing at Davis' door, striking his legs, lungs, and aorta. As the SUV backed up to evade the gun shots, Dunn left his vehicle and continued firing at the car, later testifying that he feared for his safety.
CNN reported that investigators later searched the SUV and found no weapons. Perhaps the most shocking element of the case occurred after the shooting, when Rouer returned to Dunn's car and they went back to their hotel to order pizza. Dunn did not contact the police. The next morning, after Rouer saw news reports of the shooting, Dunn and Rouer decided to head home, where he was soon arrested after his license plate was reported to police by an eyewitness.
Trial and Verdict
On February 15, a jury convicted Dunn on four charges, but could not decide on the charge of murder. Dunn was found guilty of three charges of attempted second-degree murder and one charge of firing into a vehicle. After the mistrial on the murder charge, State Attorney Angela Corey said prosecutors would press for a new trial in Duval county on the murder charge.
Comparison to Trayvon Martin case
As the story was broadcasted nationwide, several people believed the Dunn trial echoed George Zimmerman's trial for the shooting of Trayvon Martin, just 120 miles away in Sanford, Florida. The Martin family showed their support for the Davis family, saying his killing his a reminder that in Florida, "racial profiling and stereotypes" may fuel the illegitimate fear "and the shooting and killing of young teenagers."