Elbert Johnson
Black male
Age at time: 66
Weapon: unarmed
Victim photo: Leon County Sheriff's Office, 2008
Ernestine Broxsie
Black female
Age at time: 62
Weapon: gun
injured
Case type:
Dispute over money/property
Location:
Victim's Home
Initiator:
Unclear
Witnesses:
No
Case year:
2008
Location details: In the kitchen of a mobile home owned by defendant and being rented by the victim in Tallahassee, Leon County, on Nov. 26, 2008
What happened: Ernestine Broxsie was renting her Tallahassee mobile home to Elbert Johnson while she was living in Winter Haven. During a visit to Tallahassee she was staying at the home and accused Johnson of stealing some of her personal items. Broxsie said Johnson reacted violently and threw her against the kitchen cabinets, choked her and threatened to kill her. Broxsie said she grabbed a pistol that happened to be on the counter and the two fought over it until it accidentally discharged. Johnson stumbled outside and collapsed dead on the porch steps. Broxsie was holding a rag to the wound, attempting to stop the bleeding, when the police arrived. She told investigators she had fired only once, but they found two spent bullet casings. Prosecutors argued that Broxsie would have had to have cocked and fired the gun twice, raising doubts about her version of events. Her wounds and the disarray of the house, however, supported her version of events.
The outcome: A judge granted Broxsie's motion for immunity under "stand your ground" on March 30, 2012.
Investigating agency: Leon County Sheriff
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? |
 |
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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? |
|
Source: Florida State Attorney, April 3, 2012.
Source: Leon County Sheriff's Office, Nov. 26, 2008.
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
