Elmer Chancellor Pyles
White male
Age at time: 38
Weapon: unarmed
Victim photo: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
James Allen McNamara
White male
Age at time: 35
Weapon: none
Defendant photo: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Case type:
Argument turned violent
Location:
Public
Initiator:
Unclear
Witnesses:
Yes
Case year:
2011
Location details: On a residential street in Largo, Pinellas County, on Feb. 05, 2011
What happened: James McNamara was one of four drunken men fighting when police arrived. One deputy said another man was the primary aggressor against McNamara, who was trying to pull away. Another deputy arrested McNamara, however, for resisting arrest. He was also charged with disorderly conduct.
The outcome: The disorderly conduct case was dismissed after the public defender filed a motion for immunity under "stand your ground." McNamara was sentenced to time served on the resisting arrest charge.
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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
 |
||
Was the victim armed? |
|
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Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
|
||
Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
|
||
Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
|
||
Was the defendant on his or her property? |
|
||
Did someone witness the attack? |
|
||
Was there physical evidence? |
|
Source: Pinellas County Clerk of Court case progress docket, Feb. 6, 2011.
Source: Pinellas County Court, Nov. 20, 2011.
Source: Polk County Sheriff's Office, Feb. 7, 2011.
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
