Jamal Lee Is Free

Pensacola Shooting The Pensacola teen was charged with murder. The case is thrown out after witnesses change their testimony.

by Chad Petri

Published: Thu, May 21, 2009 - 7:36 pm CST Last Updated: Thu, May 21, 2009 - 8:37 pm CST

Jamal Lee is free after being acquitted in the shooting death of 15-year-old Darryl Williams and the shooting of another teenager. The case was thrown out after witnesses, who at first claimed Lee was the gunman, changed their stories on the stand.

“They were confronted with their recorded statements, the transcripts of their recorded statements and they still maintained they did not see Jamal Lee do the shooting,” says Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer. He says he had 10 witnesses lined up, three of which he says originally claimed to have seen Jamal Lee pull the trigger. The shootings happened in a Burger King parking lot in February of 2008. The shooting caused officials at two Pensacola schools to ratchet up security over rumors of retaliation shortly after the incident. Despite the surprise turn of events in court, Rimmer says what happened isn't that uncommon

“Especially with young people like this, they run in large circles they have lots of friends and for whatever reason they don't care anymore and they don't want to be involved and so they claim they didn't see what they originally claimed they did see,” says Rimmer. He says he's not sure whether peer pressure had anything to do with all witnesses recanting their original statements.
The assistant state attorney says the testimony was critical to his case. Without direct evidence for the jury he says the judge had to render and acquittal.

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tellitlikeitis Says:

Mon, May 25, 2009 at 6:33 pm

He thinks he got away with it…. He did’nt. God will punish him. Remember judgement day little jerk!!!

rmseek1234 Says:

Fri, May 22, 2009 at 4:23 pm

It sounds fishy that this many would change their minds…I wonder if any of the parties involved are affiliated with gangs? Do they fear retaliation for their testimony?

Hate-it Says:

Fri, May 22, 2009 at 9:01 am

Maybe next time he will shoot one of the “I know nothing” persons family members and then they will all be in court saying, “Oh, yes I do remember”. To bad for the people of Mobile.