A 19-year-old from Miami was recently brought to court after being arrested for shooting an off-duty police officer last year. The teen with the initials W.B. went to court armed with a defense lawyer, who told the jury that his client wasn't even present at the time of the shooting. Still, the jury declared that W.B. was guilty of attempted murder with a firearm after he allegedly shot the off-duty police officer.
The teen was also convicted of armed robbery with a firearm and battery with a firearm. The police say that the teen was with two others when they ambushed the off-duty law enforcement officer last year and demanded that he remove all jewelry and give it to them. The officer was on his way back from a volunteer service at his church.
The officer who survived the shooting attended the court hearing and testifying, saying he was defenseless because his gun was in his car. The teenager with the gun shot the victim point blank in the chest, according to the investigation. Still, W.B.'s defense attorney claims that this is a case of mistaken identity, and that his client wasn't even present at the time of the shooting. The other two boys who were arrested in the case are still awaiting trial. All three men were held without bond.
Attempted murder is a very serious felony that can results in decades of prison. There are times that individuals can be arrested for a crime that they did not commit, merely because they look like the offender. In some cases, criminals will even disguise themselves to resemble the profile of another individual who has a criminal record or that is nearby at the time of the crime. If you have been arrested for a serious crime like this and need representation in court, a lawyer at Parks & Braxton may be able to assist you. Contact Parks & Braxton today if you want more information or are seeking a Miami criminal defense lawyer to take on your case!