Key West, Florida — A Florida jury has convicted a Key West businessman of first-degree murder in the fatal 2023 shooting of a 21-year-old man following a confrontation outside a local bar, prosecutors confirmed this week.
The verdict was returned Wednesday after a trial that focused heavily on surveillance footage and eyewitness testimony. Jurors found that the defendant’s actions were premeditated and not justified as self-defense, according to statements from the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office.
Deadly confrontation outside popular bar
The case centered on events that unfolded on February 13, 2023, outside Conch Town Liquor & Lounge, located along North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West.
Prosecutors said the victim, 21-year-old Garrett Hughes, had just left the establishment when he was confronted by Lloyd Preston Brewer III, who at the time owned the small shopping center where the bar operates.
Authorities described the confrontation as brief but rapidly escalating.
“What began as a minor dispute turned into an irreversible act of violence,” prosecutors said during the trial.
Surveillance video played key role in trial
According to the prosecution, surveillance footage captured Brewer approaching Hughes, briefly turning away, and then returning to confront him again moments later.
Investigators told the jury that during the second approach, Brewer had his hand on a firearm carried at his waist.
“The evidence showed the defendant advanced toward the victim while armed and made a conscious decision to use deadly force,” prosecutors stated.
Witness testimony and video evidence were used to challenge Brewer’s claim that he feared for his safety.
Jury rejects self-defense claim
Brewer’s defense argued that the shooting was an act of self-defense. However, prosecutors emphasized that the video evidence showed Brewer had the opportunity to disengage from the situation and leave.
Instead, they said, he returned to the confrontation while armed.
“This was not an act of self-defense,” said Joseph Mansfield, Chief Assistant State Attorney. “The jury reviewed the evidence, rejected the defendant’s version of events, and held him accountable for a premeditated killing.”
Prosecutors also noted that the defense team did not call any witnesses during the trial.
Prosecutors describe deliberate escalation
Assistant State Prosecutor Colleen Dunne said the case demonstrated a deliberate decision to escalate a nonviolent encounter into a deadly one.
“This case showed a conscious and intentional choice to turn a confrontation into lethal violence,” Dunne said following the verdict.
Authorities stressed that the victim was unarmed at the time of the incident.
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Sentencing scheduled later this month
Brewer, now 60, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 26. He faces the possibility of life in prison without parole under Florida law.
The conviction closes a case that has drawn significant attention in the Florida Keys and raised renewed discussion around gun violence, self-defense claims, and accountability in confrontational situations.
Community impact and legal implications
Local officials said the verdict underscores the importance of restraint and lawful behavior, particularly in emotionally charged situations.
“The justice system worked as intended in this case,” prosecutors said, adding that the jury’s decision sends a clear message about the consequences of escalating conflicts with deadly force.
The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office said it hopes the outcome brings a measure of closure to the victim’s family as the case moves into the sentencing phase.
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