After deliberating for roughly two hours, jurors have sentenced Anthawn Ragan to life in prison without parole. Ragan, convicted of first-degree murder last month, was involved in the 2013 shooting of Luis Perez at a North Miami motel. During the penalty phase trial, Assistant State Attorney Scott Warfman urged jurors, "You need to decide this case without emotion. You'll have some emotions, but put that to the side as you evaluate what the appropriate verdict is," reports Local 10.
While Ragan's defense attorney Tony Moss emphasized factors such as Ragan's mental health issues and disadvantaged upbringing, the state presented evidence of his previous violent crimes, including a prior conviction in the shooting of Kevin Burke, reported CBS News Miami. After the verdict was read, with a smile on his face, Ragan, but his mother could be heard sobbing as they exited the courtroom, declining media engagement.
The jury, in the days prior to reaching their sentencing decision, heard the profound testimony from a victim of a robbery at a restaurant committed by Ragan, detailed by CBS News Miami. Ragan has also been convicted and sentenced for this crime to 60 years. The jury was presented with the stark contrast in family background, hearing from Ragan’s father, uncle, and cousin, all incarcerated for violent crimes and testifying in orange jumpsuits.
Two psychologists took the stand during the hearing to discuss Ragan's mental health. One testified that despite Ragan not completing the exam, he was determined to have ADHD, social anxieties, and a low to average IQ. The second psychologist speculated on Ragan's deceptiveness during testing. Ragan has another trial forthcoming in 2026 for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting at Hong Kong Nails salon, which resulted in the death of 10-year-old Aaron Vu, and the injury of his father, a tragic event adding to Ragan's pattern of criminal behavior, as pointed out by prosecutors.
