Florida Business Owner Convicted of Murder in Fatal Shooting Over Property Incident
A prominent Florida businessman has been found guilty of murder after shooting and killing a 21-year-old man who urinated on his commercial property following Super Bowl celebrations. The verdict brings closure to a case that has shocked the Key West community and raised significant questions about the use of deadly force in property disputes.
Details of the Fatal Confrontation
Lloyd Preston Brewer III, a 60-year-old real estate owner in Key West, was convicted on Wednesday for the 2023 shooting death of Garrett Hughes. The incident occurred just after midnight on February 13th behind the Conch Town Liquor & Lounge at 3340 North Roosevelt Boulevard. Both men had been inside the establishment earlier that evening watching the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
According to prosecutors, Hughes had been drinking at the bar before leaving and urinating on the rear wall of the building. Brewer, who owns the property but not the bar business operating within it, confronted Hughes about this act. The confrontation escalated dramatically when Brewer produced a handgun and fired twice, striking Hughes once in the torso.
Contested Self-Defense Claims
Brewer maintained throughout the trial that he had acted in self-defense, telling police investigators that he feared for his life when he saw a group of people gathering in the parking lot and noticed Hughes urinating on his property. "He came at me in a threatening manner and appeared he was reaching for something on his side," Brewer claimed according to police reports.
However, prosecutors presented compelling evidence that directly contradicted this account. Surveillance footage and eyewitness testimony revealed a different sequence of events. Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Joseph Mansfield explained that the video evidence showed Brewer initially walking toward Hughes, turning away, then returning with his hand on a handgun tucked into his waistband.
"As he got close to Hughes, Brewer drew the weapon in a two-hand stance and fired twice, striking Hughes once," Mansfield detailed during the trial proceedings.
Prosecution's Case and Community Impact
The prosecution argued forcefully that this was not a legitimate case of self-defense. "There is no justifiable claim to self-defense because the kid was never armed and never advanced on the shooter, the shooter advanced on him," Mansfield stated unequivocally.
Major Crimes Assistant State Prosecutor Colleen Dunne emphasized the deliberate nature of Brewer's actions: "This case showed a conscious and deliberate decision to escalate a confrontation into deadly violence." She praised the witnesses who testified despite the emotional difficulty, noting that their courage combined with clear video evidence ensured justice was served.
The victim, Garrett Hughes, was the son of John Hughes, the coach of the Conchs high school football team in Key West. His death sent shockwaves through the close-knit beach community, where both families were known figures.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
Following his conviction, Brewer now faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He remains in custody awaiting formal sentencing scheduled for February 26th. The jury's decision to reject Brewer's self-defense claims and convict him of murder represents a significant legal determination about the boundaries of justifiable force in property protection scenarios.
Hughes was rushed to Lower Keys Medical Center following the shooting but succumbed to his injuries. The case has highlighted tensions between property rights and proportional response, with prosecutors emphasizing that Brewer had multiple opportunities to disengage from the confrontation but instead chose to return armed and use deadly force against an unarmed young man.
