Michael Jackson
Black male
Age at time: 15
Weapon: gun
Jeffrey Brown
Black male
Age at time: 23
Weapon: gun
Defendant photo: Leon County Sheriff's Office, 2009
Jamal Taylor
Black male
Age at time: 20
Weapon: gun
unharmed
Defendant photo: Leon County Sheriff's Office, 2009
Andrae Tyler
Black male
Age at time: 23
Weapon: gun
Defendant photo: Leon County Sheriff's Office, 2009
Case type:
Gang shootout
Location:
Public
Initiator:
Unclear
Witnesses:
Yes
Case year:
2008
Location details: On the street in front of an apartment complex in the early morning hours in Tallahassee, Leon County, on Feb. 17, 2008
What happened: A street shootout in Tallahassee between two groups of men left a suspected gang member, 15-year-old Michael Jackson, dead. Prosecutors charged the man who brought Jackson to the shootout, 20-year-old Jamal Taylor, with manslaughter. Also charged with manslaughter were two members of the rival group, Jeffrey Brown, 23, and Andrae Tyler, 23. The person who shot Jackson was not identified. Both groups said the other side fired first in the gun battle which was in retaliation for an earlier argument and shooting. Police said more than 30 shots were fired during the Holton Street incident.
The outcome: The two members of the rival group, Brown and Tyler, filed a "stand your ground" immunity motion which was allowed by the judge. The judge cited independent witnesses and forensic evidence which supported their claim that Jackson and his allies fired on them first. (The same judge had denied an immunity filing for Brown and Tyler related to the shootout between the same groups that occurred earlier in the evening, citing lack of independent support for that claim of self-defense.) The 20-year-old who brought the victim to the gunfight, Jamal Taylor, pleaded no contest to the manslaughter charge and was sentenced to three years in state prison.
Investigating agency: Tallahassee Police
Case decision made by: Judge
Trayvon Martin’s death became controversial because circumstances leading up to the shooting cast doubt on who was to blame. The Tampa Bay Times reviewed other “stand your ground” cases for similar circumstances. The Times relied on available information, some of which may not tell the whole story. When the situation was unclear, that was noted.
| Yes | No | Unclear/ disputed |
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|---|---|---|---|
Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
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Was the victim armed? |
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Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
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Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
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Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
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Was the defendant on his or her property? |
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Did someone witness the attack? |
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Was there physical evidence? |
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Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, April 19, 2012.
Source: Leon County Circuit Court, May 17, 2010.
Source: Pensacola News Journal, May 23, 2010.
Source: Tallahassee Democrat, Aug. 5, 2009.
Source: Tallahassee Democrat, April 27, 2010.
Source: Tallahassee Democrat, May 23, 2010.
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
