A Duval County jury has convicted Christopher McDaniel of attempted first-degree felony murder and armed robbery after prosecutors said he shot a security guard during an August 2023 robbery at an illegal gaming business on Herlong Road. The verdict leaves McDaniel facing up to life in Florida state prison. Prosecutors say the co-defendant’s case remains pending and a sentencing date for McDaniel has not yet been set.
What prosecutors say happened
According to a press release from the Office of the State Attorney, on Aug. 4, 2023, McDaniel and a co-defendant planned and carried out an armed robbery at an illegal gaming business on Herlong Road. Prosecutors allege McDaniel shot the security guard posted at the front door and pushed him back as the co-defendant fired multiple rounds inside. The injured guard ran to get help while the two men took property and fled the scene. The Office credited the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office with the investigation and identified Assistant State Attorneys Crystal Ganpath-Freed and Fallon Hinkley as the prosecutors on the case.
How the verdict was reported
As reported by Action News Jax, State Attorney Melissa Nelson announced the jury’s finding and summarized for the public the evidence presented at trial. Coverage notes prosecutors’ account that the two suspects escaped in an SUV driven by another person and that the co-defendant’s case remains ongoing.
Next steps in court
With the guilty verdict in hand, McDaniel now faces a potential life term in state prison. The Honorable London Kite will formally sentence him at a later date, the Office of the State Attorney said. Pre-sentencing filings and any defense motions are expected to shape the schedule leading up to sentencing, even as the co-defendant’s case continues to move through Duval County courts.
What to watch
Observers will be watching for any plea or pre-trial developments in the co-defendant’s case and for the setting of McDaniel’s sentencing date once judges review pre-sentencing materials, Action News Jax notes. Local prosecutors and law enforcement say the case underscores ongoing efforts to crack down on violent robberies tied to illegal gaming operations in Duval County.
