The trial began today for the white Florida man accused of shooting and killing an unarmed black teen in November 2012, raising comparisons to the Trayvon Martin case.
Michael Dunn pulled into a Jacksonville gas station and parked next to the SUV in which 17-year-old Jordan Davis was sitting in with three friends. The 47-year-old software developer from Satellite Beach was waiting for his fiancée to return from the convenience store when he told the teens to turn their music down.
One of Davis' friends turned the music down, but Davis insisted he turn it back up, which, authorities say, prompted Dunn to get into an argument with the teen.
According to an affidavit, Dunn pulled his nine-millimeter handgun from the glove compartment and fired eight to nine shots at the SUV. Davis was hit in the back and groin, later dying from his injuries.
Dunn told police he shot in self-defense after being threatened by the teens and seeing one of them point a shotgun at him. Police did not find any guns inside the SUV.
Dunn pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder for shooting at Davis' three friends. His attorney said he plans on using Florida’s "Stand Your Ground" law as a defense, putting the controversial law into the national spotlight once again.
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