The State Attorney’s Office will seek the death penalty as it prosecutes the man accused in the Dec. 23 Paddock Mall shooting. The state says Albert James Shell targeted the victim, chased him, fired shots and gunned him down while he begged for his life.
The state says the case has four aggravating factors that, according to Florida law, are reasons to support capital punishment.
The first: “The defendant was previously convicted of another capital felony orof a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person.”
The second: “The defendant knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons.”
Third: “The capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.”
Fourth: “The capital felony was a homicide and was committed in a cold,calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification.”
Reactions to the decision
Shell is represented by the Public Defender’s Office. The leader of that office, Mike Graves, said on Friday that his staff is “moving forward in preparing for the case.” Beyond that, Graves had no further comment.