Real estate mogul is sensationally found GUILTY of murdering football coach's son outside mall
A business owner has been found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting a high school football coach's son to death.
Lloyd Preston Brewer III, 60, gunned down Garrett Hughes, 21, in Key West, Florida, during a confrontation over Hughes urinating on the side of his building.
Brewer claimed the victim was going to pull something from his waistband during the altercation on February 13, 2023. Hughes was unarmed.
The real estate mogul told police during an interrogation: 'I stood my ground... I feared for my life.'
But a Monroe County Circuit Court disagreed, finding Brewer guilty of premeditated murder after five hours of deliberation.
Less than an hour before Hughes was murdered, both men were at Conch Town Liquor & Lounge watching the Super Bowl.
Brewer owns the small multi-storefront shopping center that bar is part of, but not the business itself.
Footage of the lead-up to the shooting showed a shirtless Hughes leaving the bar just after 12.30am and urinate on the wall next to the parking lot.
Lloyd Preston Brewer III, 60, has been found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting a high school football coach's son to death
Garrett Hughes, 21, was shot once in the torso and died in hospital
Brewer approached Hughes and verbally confronted him, then walked away before returning with his hand on his holstered gun
He then reached for something in his waistband and raised his arms. Prosecutors said he got into a firing stance with two hands on his weapon, and shot Hughes once in the torso.
Hughes' friends rushed to his aid, but he died after being rushed to Lower Keys Medical Center.
Hughes was the son of John Hughes, the football coach of the local high school.
Chief Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said after the verdict that the shooting was not in self-defense, as Brewer claimed.
'Lloyd Brewer had the opportunity to disengage but chose instead to return to the confrontation armed and use deadly force,' he said.
The jury saw the evidence, rejected Brewer's account, and held him accountable for a premeditated killing.'
Brewer claimed he shot Hughes because he feared for his life as the young man came at him in an aggressive manner.
'He came at me in a threatening manner and appeared he was reaching for something on his side,' he told detectives during interrogation.
Lloyd Preston Brewer III, 60, gunned down Garrett Hughes, 21, in Key West, Florida
Security footage showed the leadup to the shooting outside the bar in Key West, Florida
Hughes' friends rushed to his aid, but he died after being rushed to Lower Keys Medical Center
Brewer claimed he told Hughes he was armed but he kept coming at him anyway. He claimed he fired twice, but the second shot went up in the air as Hughes was almost on top of him.
However, witness testimony and security footage contradicted his version of events, leading to the jury finding him guilty.
'This case showed a conscious and deliberate decision to escalate a confrontation into deadly violence,' Major Crimes Assistant State Prosecutor Colleen Dunne said after the verdict.
'We are deeply grateful to the witnesses who came forward and testified, knowing the difficulty and responsibility that come with telling the truth in a murder trial.
'Their courage, combined with clear video evidence and thorough investigative work, ensured that justice was done for Garrett Hughes.'
Brewer's lawyer Jerome Ballarotto said he would appeal the verdict, claiming the judge didn't properly instruct the jury.
Brewer faces life in prison at sentencing.
