In the late spring of 2016, a fatal encounter in an apartment complex parking lot cut short the life of 19-year-old Jacob Britt. The white male was with a friend in Augusta, Georgia, on May 31, when a man entered the back seat of his car. The man, identified as Brandon Stevenson, then shot Britt in the back during what was described as a robbery at the Bon Air Apartments on Walton Way.
After the shooting, the assailant demanded their belongings.
Though critically wounded, Jacob Britt clung to life for two months. He was transported to Emory University Medical Center for treatment but ultimately succumbed to his injuries on July 30, 2016. His death escalated the initial charges against the alleged perpetrator.
Brandon Stevenson, who was 24 years old at the time, was apprehended on the day of the violent incident. Initially, he faced charges of assault and robbery. Following Britt's death, the charges were upgraded to include murder. The case proceeded to a jury trial where the prosecution presented its evidence against Stevenson.
Despite the gravity of the charges, the trial concluded with an acquittal. The jury found Brandon Stevenson not guilty of malice or felony murder, as well as related charges of voluntary manslaughter, armed robbery, and the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime. The defense successfully raised doubts about the reliability of the identification of Stevenson made by the friend who was with Britt during the attack. Key elements that contributed to the verdict included the fact that the weapon used in the shooting was never recovered and challenges to the credibility of the eyewitness testimony. A fingerprint found on Britt's car was part of the prosecution's case, but it was not enough to secure a conviction.
