A 47-year-old Florida man is scheduled to begin trial on Monday, with his lawyers prepared to use the state's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law as a defense, TIME reported.
In November of 2012, Michael Dunn shot at 17-year-old Jordan Davis eight or nine times while both were in their parked cars at a convenience store, following an argument over the volume of the teen's music. Though there was no weapon recovered from Davis' vehicle, Dunn said he thought he saw a gun during the incident.
Dunn has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in addition to three counts of attempted murder.
As TIME magazine noted, the case is being compared to the murder of Trayvon Martin as lawyers for both defendants are using the "Stand Your Ground" law to justify their client's actions. State attorney Angela Corey will prosecute this case as well.
Lucy McBath, Davis's mother and national spokeswoman for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, believes her son was racially profiled.
"In his mind, he had already racially profiled them. And that, for him, was his defining moment that, 'These are thugs. I'm in fear of my life' - even though they've not done anything to harm him," McBath said.
John Phillips, the lawyer representing Davis' family, said Dunn does not immediately come off as a "vicious killer" but accuses him of believing Florida's controversial defense law as a get-out-of-jail-free card.
"It's hard to try to construct somebody that's had a night like that, who seemed very normal coming in - the average person on the street - and then becomes, to some extent, a vicious killer," Phillips said.
"Recklessly firing 10 shots at a gas station, on one of the busiest shopping days of the year."
When Dunn was questioned by police after the incident, he told authorities that he had "never been so scared."
"I don't know how I can express to you guys that I was in fear for my life. I've never been so scared in my life," Dunn said to detectives. "I was so afraid that I didn't have time to think. I only reacted."
While Dunn's girlfriend, Rhonda Rouey, was inside the convenience store when he fired his gun, she ran into the car and they drove off. When asked why he didn't call 911 to report the shooting, Dunn said he was planning on turning himself into police the next day.
