David James, a 41-year-old retired Air Force veteran, was shot and killed on September 26, 2010, in Valrico, Florida, during a dispute at a community park in the Twin Lakes subdivision. The confrontation began when neighbor Trevor Dooley complained about children skateboarding on a basketball court and escalated; Dooley retrieved a gun from his home and shot James in front of James’s eight-year-old daughter. James had served in Iraq and worked with Special Forces.

The case drew attention because of the public setting, the presence of a child witness, and claims raised about self-defense under Florida law as the legal proceedings moved forward. Initial reporting noted a manslaughter conviction in 2012 that was later overturned on appeal, extending the case’s timeline.