David Queen, a 29-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on May 20, 2015, at his apartment complex in Tallahassee, Florida. The incident occurred following a heated argument between Queen and Michael Mason, a 28-year-old man. According to court records, the altercation began when Mason drove by Queen and another man, yelling out of his vehicle window. Mason then parked near a bank of mailboxes, where the argument escalated, leading to Mason shooting Queen.
Multiple witnesses reported hearing loud yelling followed by gunshots. Mason called 911 to report the shooting, claiming that Queen had charged at him and tried to grab his keys. However, someone in the background of the call disputed Mason's account, stating that Queen did not attempt to attack him.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Queen suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Mason was found with a .22 caliber breech-loaded derringer in his front pocket, and additional .22 caliber bullets, a shotgun, and shotgun shells were discovered in his vehicle and apartment. Despite the evidence, Mason showed no signs of a physical altercation and declined to provide his side of the story through his attorney.
The case went to trial, where Mason's defense argued that he acted in self-defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground Law, which eliminates the duty to retreat before using deadly force if a person believes they are facing a threat of death or great bodily harm. On November 15, 2017, a jury found Mason not guilty of second-degree murder. The verdict was met with disbelief and outrage, particularly from Queen's mother, Tangela Sears, a Miami anti-violence activist. Sears, who had been active in the community before her son's death, was devastated by the loss of her only child and the subsequent acquittal of his killer. She channeled her grief into advocacy, launching a support group called Miami-Dade Parents of Murdered Kids to help other parents who have lost children to gun violence.
The case of David Queen highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding self-defense laws and their application in court. Despite the tragic outcome, Queen's legacy lives on through his mother's tireless efforts to support and advocate for families affected by similar tragedies.
