Geovany Ortiz Zuniga, a 31-year-old Miami man, was convicted of killing an innocent bystander during a robbery of a convenience store west of Boyton Beach. Zuniga was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder with a firearm, attempted felony murder, robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a firearm, shooting into an occupied vehicles, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, shooting into a building, kidnapping and burglary with assault or battery. He is set to be sentenced on March 9.
In November 2007, Zuniga along with 5 accomplices from Miami entered the Three Amigos market armed with guns. They tied up the customers and robbed the customers and store of thousands of dollars. The robbers had then fled the store speeding down Florida's Turnpike and got off at Atlantic Avenue. The store manager tried to pursue the robbers in his vehicle. The robbers shot at the store manager but missed and hit the driver of another vehicle. The driver who was hit and killed was Samuel Salmon 70, who was on his way home near Delray Beach.
Criminal defense attorney John Musca said that Zuniga could be sentenced to life in prison. Musca said, "The situation is a real tragedy. It is always heartbreaking when innocent bystanders get hurt or killed during the commission of a crime." Musca pointed out that the increased danger created by the use of a weapon during a felony is one of the rationales behind the felony murder rule. The felony murder rule states that any death that occurs during the commission of certain serious felonies is first-degree murder and all participants in the felony can be held equally responsible. However, the law has been criticized because sometimes defendants who have no intention of killing anyone are convicted of first degree murder according to Musca.
Musca Law Firm has over 100 years of combined legal experience with convenient offices located across the State of Florida. Our Miami criminal defense team will aggressively defend your rights on the State and Federal levels. The prosecution is looking to punish you to the fullest extent of the law. You need a knowledgeable attorney to watch out for you. Contact the Miami criminal lawyers at Musca Law for a free, comprehensive review of your case.
