Man convicted of murder in Auburn shooting

A jury in Alabama convicted a 24-year-old man of capital murder Oct. 6. The verdict rejected the man’s claim that he fatally shot two former university football players and a third man in self-defense.

The man was found guilty of murdering two former members of the Auburn Tigers football team and another man at a pool party held at an Auburn, Alabama, apartment complex on June 9, 2012. All three victims were 20 years of age. Three other people were also wounded by the gunfire.

The convicted man’s attorneys argued that at the time of the shooting, their client was on the ground being kicked by the men he eventually shot. They claimed he pulled out a gun and opened fire to escape the assault, acting in compliance with the state’s ‘Stand Your Ground” law.

Prosecutors in the case noted that each of the murdered men was shot twice, indicating the man intended to kill them. They also said they could find no witnesses to corroborate the man’s contention that he was in fear for his life when he fired his weapon.

In Alabama, defendants convicted of capital murder face life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in this case.

The stakes for someone facing murder charges could not be higher. Anyone accused of murder may want to consult with an attorney experienced in criminal defense. A lawyer could help a defendant build a strong self-defense claim, establish an alibi or find inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. An attorney may also be able to obtain lesser charges against the defendant or arrange a plea deal that reduces penalties.

Source: The Bellingham Herald, “Lawyers duel over what led to Auburn shooting”, Kim Chandler, Oct. 6, 2014

Source: The Virginia Gazette, “Jury convicts man of murder in Auburn, Alabama pool party shooting”, Sherrel Wheeler Steward, October 07, 2014