Byron Mitchell, 20, of 3055 Alexis Rd., was convicted in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Friday of firing the shot that killed Mr. Daniels.
Mitchell entered an Alford plea to involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification. He faces up to 13 years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 13.
Assistant County Prosecutor Kevin Pituch said the incident occurred July 3 at a parking lot at Detroit Avenue and Monroe Street. He said Mr. Daniels, 40, was with two friends and was a passenger in his friend’s truck.
The truck was parked in such a way that it blocked other drivers who wanted to leave, Mr. Pituch said. A discussion about moving the truck degenerated into a fistfight, which involved Mitchell, Mr. Pituch said.
It was then that Mr. Daniels produced a handgun and “fired what could be called a warning shot into the air,” Mr. Pituch said, adding that Mr. Daniels had a license to carry a concealed handgun.
“That shot had no effect on the fight, but just about everyone else who was there ran or took cover. As a result, only one witness saw what happened next,” he said.
Mr. Pituch said Mr. Daniels joined the fight. While Mr. Daniels was striking one of the individuals with his gun still in his hand, the gun discharged into the pavement, he added.
“At that point, [Mitchell] backed away from Mr. Daniels, produced his own handgun and fired several shots,” Mr. Pituch said. “One of those shots struck Mr. Daniels in the back.”
He died in Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center.
Originally charged with murder, Mitchell was found guilty of the lesser offense. Judge Gene Zmuda said that based on the information provided by the prosecutor, he accepted the plea and found Mitchell guilty.
In an Alford plea, the defendant maintains his innocence or does not admit he committed a crime, but acknowledges evidence is sufficient for a conviction. The court treats it as a guilty plea.
Attorney Pete Rost noted after the hearing that Mitchell’s gun was produced only after Mr. Daniels fired at least two shots. Mitchell had no prior felony convictions.
“I think amending the murder charge into involuntary manslaughter accurately reflects and takes into account the fact that Mr. Daniels introduced a firearm into the situation in the first place,” he said. “Mr. Mitchell’s reaction was in response to that. It’s a tragedy for both families,” he added.
Friends and family members of both Mitchell and Mr. Daniels crowded the courtroom to watch the proceedings. Several tearful members of Mr. Daniels’ family declined to be interviewed, saying they would comment at sentencing.
Mr. Pituch said in court that the plea was explained to family members, who understood why the charge was lowered. He noted after the proceedings that the case rested on the testimony of one witness, who has been kept nameless out of concern for possible retaliation.
“While there was a whole parking lot full of people, we only had one person who came forward,” he said.
Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.