Curtis Miller
Black male
Age at time: 26
Weapon: unarmed
Earl Jackson
Black male
Age at time: 20
Weapon: gun
Defendant photo: Leon County Sheriff's Office, 2012
Dervaunta Vaughn
Black male
Age at time: 26
Weapon: gun
Defendant photo: Leon County Sheriff's Office, 2012
Case type:
Gang shootout
Location:
Public
Initiator:
Unclear
Witnesses:
Yes
Case year:
2009
Location details: In the parking lot of a Circle K in Tallahassee, Leon County, on March 29, 2009
What happened: Four men, including Earl Jackson and Dervaunta Vaughn, were charged with murder after what investigators called a gang shootout left a bystander dead in a gas station parking lot. Jackson and Vaughn argued they were defending their lives from the other shooters.
The outcome: Both men had prior convictions that prevented them from carrying a firearm. Leon County Judge Josefina Tomayo denied Jackson's stand your ground motion. In Oct. 2011, a jury found Jackson not guilty of murder but convicted him on gun possession charges. He was sentenced to 20 years. Tomayo also denied Vaughn's motion because he was a convicted felon illegally in possession of a firearm. However, he became a state's witness against Jackson and pleaded to the lesser charges of felon with a gun and was sentenced to 8 years in prison, according to his attorney, Chuck Hobbs. Despite the judge's ruling, Hobbs says, "For a defense attorney, it (stand your ground) is an excellent tool. Even if your client is not found legal under stand your ground, it helps you flesh out the issues as the case proceeds to trial.'' Because it requires an early hearing, "it's an opportunity to push forward with that position while also forcing the state to show their hand.''
Investigating agency: Tallahassee Police
Case decision made by: Jury
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: Tallahassee Democrat, April 2, 2011.
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
