Community Corner

The Next Trayvon Martin Case?

By Hunt Archbold

Jury selection is expected to begin in Jacksonville, Fla., in the trial of a 47-year-old white man charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder in the 2012 shooting of a 17-year-old black male from Marietta, Ga.

The case is drawing comparisons to last year’s highly publicized George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case in nearby Sanford, Fla., which resulted in Zimmerman beingacquitted of second-degree murder.

Jacksonville’s State Attorney Angela Corey prosecuted that case and will be doing the same in the case set to start this week in northwest Florida.

On a late November 2012 evening, 17-year-old Jordan Russell Davis and several other teenagers were sitting in an SUV in a convenience store parking lot when Michael David Dunn and his girlfriend pulled into the store’s lot.

Find out what's happening in Mariettawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dunn reportedly asked the teens to turn down the music playing in their vehicle. After he and Davis exchanged words, Dunn shot and killed Davis, authorities said.

After fleeing the scene, Dunn was arrested at his home the next day on charges of murder and attempted murder.

Find out what's happening in Mariettawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the police report, Dunn said he saw a gun and felt threatened. Police never found the weapon. 

According to WSB TV, Davis split time at his mother’s home in Marietta and in Jacksonville with his father.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here