A man convicted of killing part-time Marietta resident Jordan Davis outside a Jacksonville, Fla., convenience store in a dispute two years ago over loud music has been sentenced to life in prison, according to The Associated Press.
The prosecution did not seek the death penalty so the sentence of life without parole was mandatory for Michael Dunn, 47, after he was convicted of first degree murder.
“Mr. Dunn, your life is effectively over,” AP reported Circuit Judge Russell Healey said at sentencing. “What is sad is that this case exemplifies that our society seems to have lost its way”
Davis, 17, was shot in November 2012 after he and three friends in an SUV outside the store were confronted by Dunn who objected to their loud music. Dunn and his fiance had come to the store for a bottle of wine after leaving his son’s wedding.
In February, jurors deadlocked on a first-degree murder charge against Dunn and found him guilty on three counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced to 60 years on that conviction. In a second trial on Davis’ death in September, Dunn was convicted of first-degree murder. Friday’s life sentence followed that conviction.
Prosecutors say Dunn, who is white, fired 10 times into the sport utility vehicle, killing Davis. Dunn claimed he fired in self-defense after he was threatened with a shotgun by someone in the vehicle. No second weapon was ever discovered.
According to sheriff’s deputies, Dunn fled the scene with his girlfriend, telling deputies he feared for his safety. He was arrested the following day. Dunn, who has no previous criminal history, told deputies he had asked the teens to turn down their music, prompting a verbal fracas.
The Associated Press reported that Dunn apologized to Davis’ parents at Friday’s sentencing hearing.
“I want the Davis family to know that I truly regret what happened. If I could roll back time and do things differently, I would,” he said. “I am mortified that I took a life whether it was a justified or not.”
Davis’ mother, Lucia McBath said she always taught her son to love and to forgive.
“Therefore, I too must be willing to forgive and so I choose to forgive you Mr. Dunn for taking my son’s life,” McBath said in court.
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