Jyron Miles
Black male
Age at time: 22
Weapon: unarmed
Victim photo: Florida Department of Corrections
Tony Hayward
Black male
Age at time: 19
Weapon: gun
Case type:
Attempted robbery
Location:
Public
Initiator:
Victim
Witnesses:
Yes
Case year:
2008
Location details: Just outside the Tamarind supermarket in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, on July 06, 2008
What happened: Besides the shooter's word and a grainy surveillance video, jurors had little to go on when deciding if Tony Hayward was defending his life when he shot and killed Jyron Miles, 22. Hayward, then 19, and his father were delivering newspapers when Miles appeared at about 3 a.m., according to newspaper reports. They said Miles aggressively demanded "is you straight?" a phrase sometimes used to see if someone has drugs. The father and son said Miles then reached for what they thought was a gun, so the teen fired. The video did not show whether Miles had a gun, but police did not find one when they arrived.
The outcome: Hayward's first trial in late 2010 ended in a hung jury. At his second trial in early 2011, Hayward was acquitted. His public defender argued that Hayward was standing his ground during the confrontation.
Investigating agency: West Palm Beach 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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
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: Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, March 2, 2011.
Source: Palm Beach Post, Dec. 7, 2010.
Source: West Palm Beach Police Department, April 16, 2012.
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Case last updated: Oct. 4, 2012
