JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man accused of killing a teenager during an argument over loud music will face a second murder trial after jurors at his original trial deadlocked on the charge, a judge decided Monday.
Michael Dunn, 47, will be tried again starting Sept. 22 in the shooting death of Jordan Davis, 17, in an encounter at a Jacksonville gas station, Circuit Judge Russell Healey said.
In February, a jury deadlocked on a first-degree murder charge but convicted Dunn of three counts of attempted murder for shooting at Davis’ companions.
Witnesses said Dunn complained that Davis and his friends’ music was too loud, sparking an argument.
Dunn claimed self-defense and said he fired into the group’s vehicle because he feared Davis had a weapon. No weapon was found in the vehicle.
Healey also said Monday that Dunn won’t be sentenced on the attempted murder counts until after his second trial. Testimony gathered for the sentencing could taint the second trial, Healey said, and he wants it to run “as cleanly as possible.”
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