News Column

Man Who Won 'Stand Ground' Ruling Killed by Stray Bullet

June 28, 2012

A man who won a controversial ruling under Florida's "stand your ground" self-defense law was fatally shot in Miami.

Police told The Miami Herald that 26-year-old Greyston Garcia was killed late Tuesday by a stray bullet during a shootout between rival gangs. Garcia was shot in his truck while driving to work. A 16-year-old boy also died.

Police don't believe Garcia was involved with the gangs.

Garcia in March successfully invoked the "stand your ground" law to win immunity from murder charges. Garcia claimed self-defense when he chased and fatally stabbed a radio thief who had broken into his truck. The man had swung a bag containing radios at Garcia.

Garcia's case won national attention because of the self-defense law's role in the shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin.



Source: (C) 2012 Charleston Gazette. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved


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