A Virginia jury has acquitted 20-year-old Demari Batten in the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old outside a high school basketball game in 2021. The Newport News Circuit Court jury took about 50 minutes last week to find Batten not guilty of manslaughter in the death of Justice Dunham, as reported by The Daily Press.
The shooting occurred on December 14, 2021, as fans were leaving a game at Menchville High School against Woodside High School. Batten, who was 18 at the time, testified that he was in a friend’s car when Dunham and other teens attacked him and attempted to grab his gun. Batten claimed that Dunham, who was wearing a ski mask, opened the driver’s side door and was approaching him, leading him to fire in self-defense.
Batten’s attorney, Mario Lorello, characterized the incident as a “mob assault” and stated that Batten believed his life was in danger and that there was a potential for great bodily harm. The jury’s acquittal in the retrial focused solely on the manslaughter charge, as Batten had previously been convicted of three firearms charges in a 2022 trial. However, the jury had been deadlocked on the manslaughter charge during that trial.
While Batten has been cleared of the homicide charges, he still faces sentencing for the firearms charges from the previous trial. A date for the sentencing has not yet been set, and Batten remains in custody.
This case has drawn attention due to its connection to a high-profile incident at a school event. The acquittal of Demari Batten highlights the complexities involved in self-defense cases and raises questions about the appropriate use of force in such situations.
