A jury today convicted Manatee County teenager Byron Galloway of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 18-year-old Dejuan Williams.
Earlier today, prosecutors reminded jurors that Galloway shot Williams in August 2009 with a single shot so lethal "even if he had been shot in the parking lot of the ER it would have been too late."
That's the image the state planted as prosecutors presented closing arguments in the year-old murder case.
Galloway, then 16, killed Williams after Williams came home and found Galloway and another boy at his home visiting his younger sister, which the family did not allow when she was home alone.
Galloway tried to hide near a shed, but Williams, who grabbed a bat, found him. That's when deputies say Galloway apologized, then fired the gun he brought with him to the Williams' home. Williams, a standout high school athlete, died at the scene in front of his mother.
Prosecutor Darlene Ragoonanan says Galloway made a choice to shoot to kill.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if this truly were self-defense, wouldn't the last words Dejuan heard be, 'You better back up.' Instead it was, 'That's it ... BAM.' ''
Defense attorney Chris Pratt, though, told jurors Galloway was afraid for his life.
"It is our position that Dejuan Williams was walking toward him in an aggressive manner with a bat and that would have been aggravated assault," Pratt said.
Jurors also convicted Galloway of assault with a firearm.
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