A jury has ruled that a 42-years old Florida man, who shot a 17-years boy old in September 2012 during an argument with the teenager, is guilty of first degree murder.
The suspect, Michael Dunn, had already been convicted in February of three counts of attempted murder for his attack on the SUV where the deceased victim Jordan Davis and his three friends were sitting. But he was acquitted of first degree murder to the ire of many local residents after the judge ruled it was a mistrial.
Following the declaration of the guilty verdict on Wednesday, Lucy Mcbath, the mother of the late teenager, relayed her satisfaction at the outcome of the trial, adding that the life and legacy of her son will live on.
"We are very grateful that justice has been served, justice not only for Jordan, but justice for Trayvon and justice for all the nameless, faceless children and people that will never have a voice," she said.
Reports indicate that on the day of the incident Dunn got engaged in an argument with the victims and his friends over the loudness of the music blaring from their car. After failing to reason with the group, Dunn allegedly fired up to 10 shots at the SUV containing Davis and his friends, which was in the parking lot of a convenience store.
Prosecutors have noted that the suspect fired at the teenagers with the intent to kill them. Erin Wolfson, one of the chief prosecutors is quoted arguing in court that the suspect "wasn't shooting at the tires. He wasn't shooting at the windows. He was shooting to kill, aiming at Jordan Davis."
But Dunn has pleaded that he shot at the group because his life had been threatened. According to him, Davis had shown him a shotgun some moments before he decided to open fire on the teenagers, whom he has described as "thugs" and "gangsters."
The trial of Dunn has echoed concerns from other cases involving the murder of young African-American men in the country. While the problematic issue of racial profiling is glaring, experts say it will be extremely difficult issue to tackle as it is knitted deep in the fabric of society.
Legal commentators say Dunn, who already faces up to 60 years in jail on separate charges, could be ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment.
