In 2012, a white Florida man fired into a car full of unarmed black teenagers after arguing with them about loud music, in the presence of witnesses, then continued to shoot at them as they drove away. He expressed no remorse and later insulted his murder victim, Jordan Davis, in overtly racist language. Nevertheless, it took two long years for justice to be served.
At last, justice for Jordan
At last, today, convicted murderer Michael Dunn was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
For the first time, in court Dunn publicly apologized, sort of. “I am mortified I took a life, whether it was justified or not,” he said. His words feel tepid and calculated. He may as well have said, “please don’t impose the maximum penalty on me, even though I still will not wholly concede I did something wrong.” His non-apology apology was probably written by his lawyers and moved no one.
Dunn’s non-apology apology: Too little, too late
It’s all too little too late because we know his true heart. In a letter written from jail as he awaited trial, Dunn called Jordan Davis a “thug” and said the world would be a better place if more people “killed these fucking idiots.”
Referring to African-Americans, Dunn said, “the more I am exposed to these people, the more prejudiced against them I become.” (Inexplicably, the prosecution failed to introduce these and other virulently racist words penned by Dunn into evidence.)
At the sentencing, Davis’ parents remembered their murdered child, and spoke of grace and mercy.
“I miss his big, wide, toothy smile,” Davis’ mother, Lucy McBath, said through tears. “For me, there will be no college graduation. There will be no daughter-in-law. For me, there will be no future generation.”
She went on to add, “I, too, must be willing to forgive. And so I choose to forgive you, Mr. Dunn, for taking my son’s life. I pray that God has mercy on your soul.”
Jordan Davis’ parents asked that the prosecution not seek the death penalty.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Avvo.
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18 comments
Dawn Levesque
Good riddance, you wont be missed
Cano
Hey honeydip, how naive of you to quote stats about murders - whites vs Blacks. The history of the world shows white man's barbaric behavior toward Blacks. They lynched, raped, burned, bombed, and tried to make Blacks extinct. They did the same to Indians, so don't talk about Blacks being violent. We learned from white folks; the grand masters of Violence. So don't be so naive with your little FBI stats. It just shows your ignorance and lack of education.
Cano
Hey Honeydip, your stats have nothing to do with what happened. This man took the life of an innocent teenager just because he had a gun and he could. Now he'll rot in jail and he better be glad the state didn't fry his azz. He deserved every single day he got. Now I'd like to see him talk trash in prison, but he won't because he's nothing but a yellow-belly Coward and moved on those innocent boys only because he had the upper hand. Well, Rot in Hell Michael Dunn!!!!!
lisa
He get would he deserves he had no business bothering those kid n being hateful because they where black trying to control thing. Picture that being your child yes u would have wanted life n depending on the race they would have received death penalty but God is not sleep n all evil, racist people your day coming keep living n judging
Perry
Can't we all just get along?
Your Daddy
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-6
Here's some evidence for you. The very first column shows out of 2,695 murders of blacks, 193 were committed by whites. Of 3.172 murders of whites, 448 of them were committed by blacks. And if you'll notice, that's the FBI's tally, not some right wing conspiracy blog.
honeydip
You sound ridiculous
Andy
"Black people murdering white people for racial reasons is much more common than whites murdering blacks. . ."
This is absolute nonsense. You offer no evidence for your preposterous claim because you have none and none exists.
Myra
He took that lady only child and then he didnt show no remorse!! I hope he live in misery in jail he was just jealous of young black people getting somewhere in life and he starting shooting into they car cause they had the muscic up thats so sad!! Godbless the boy mom and dad
tracy
That's a lie Mike.
tracy
Exactly!! That's exactly where I was going.
tracy
Just because there was more parking and your summary of Duncan's life , still doesn't mean its not about race . He still may have had race issues with blacks and the lifestyle of rap music. He had the gun parked there knowing that if he provoked a conflict he had the upper hand.
Key
Mike!!!!
How could you say only white on black racial crimes get written about that's a lie an if it was the other way around the state would of pushed for the death penalty...... For to many years have white people been killing black people especially young black kids and us as the minority hasn't had any justice...it's a shame that the color of your skin makes you an automatic target....if you ask me they should of fried him for what he did to that kid an his family.
Brittany Price
I think what really gets people is the justice part. We as African Americans never could and never will be able to kill white folks an get away with it. You get 10 yrs just for breaking and entering. It's not fair. There is enough black on black crime. It's time out for hatred and petty shit. People want to holler about change and racism is dead but I still see all these white broads with black men on their arms ans I'm uncomfortable with that but it doesn't mean I'm going to kill them about it
Mamere
Mike, first you are mistaken on your interjection of racism into this. Aside from your overt racism, Dunn was reported on media because he shot up an area with many people, out shopping,Black Friday. He didn't care who he killed. Sprayed the parking lot. Emptied his clip and said he would have shot 50 times ( 2nd trial). Had silencer and knuchucks in his trunk or back seat.
Mamere
I live about a mile from this murder. This was not due to loud music ..this area had plenty of available parking. Perhaps, from some comment made at his son's wedding. He hadn't seen his son in 5 years yet left reception before cutting of cake. Where he stayed is 8-10 miles north of the reception. Remember, he lived south of Jax. There are plenty of hotels in Orange Park but he chose one over 10 miles north.
His history is one long horror story, for instance he flew over NASA protected air space and was forced down by military aircraft. That was the last attempt he made to see his son at his HS graduation. He just laughed about it.( hear his jail house calls). He forced his wife to attend swingers party, stole from his parents, tried to put a hit out on someone who threatened to report him for insurance fraud. Never any interaction with any of his 3 kids. Just a terrifying man and that is why no one close to his age testified at his trial.
He left the scene with a cop right across the street, hoping no one saw his car. Thank goodness, there was someone with a photographic memory that was able to memorize his tag. A Bolo went out immediately but it took SWAT to force him out.
His neighbor, whom they should have brought to the first trial, said he barely knew him and Dunn had asked him to keep his dog while he came to Jax. So much, for that loving puppy defense. Ken, the neighbor, prayed with Jordon's parents and said he wished he had never met him.
I believe it was a spree killing attempt, thankfully unsuccessful but this was not related to loud rap music. He chose to park next to car playing loud music. The car was there and there was plenty of available parking away from music. That was a ridiculous argument for John Guy to even make.
The Jacksonville detectives did a wonderful investigation and with 6 eye witnesses he should have been found guilty of first degree murder at first trial.
rich
What planet do you live on? Lots of folk would like for the younguns to turn that noise down, but, remember , if you say anything, be prepared to tussle
mike
Black people murdering white people for racial reasons is much more common than whites murdering blacks, only white on black racial crimes get written about.