Hurricane Chris' Lawyer Thanks Jury For Being Courageous Following Not Guidance

Hurricane Chris can now move forward with his life after being found not guilty of second-degree murder charges. The "Ay Bay Bay" rapper was accused of fatally shooting Danzeria Ferris Jr. at Texaco Station Shreveport, LA in 2020 but his legal team argued that the death was self-defense.

Jury found Hurricane Chris Not Guilty of Murder

Hurricane Chris, better known by his stage name Christopher Dooley, was found not guilty after seven days on trial. The Shreveport native had been accused of shooting and killing Danzeria Farris Jr. outside Texaco gas station at Hearne and Hollywood avenues in June 2020; multiple gunshot wounds were found on his chest, hip, and stomach; unfortunately the victim succumbed to his injuries.

In 2020, the rapper was charged with second-degree murder and illegal possession of stolen items by the Caddo Parish Grand Jury.

Throughout the trial, Hurricane Chris' defense team presented evidence and testimony from two witnesses while the prosecution called upon 11 witnesses.

On March 14th, a jury found Chris not guilty of second-degree murder and illegal possession of stolen items as reported by KTAL/KMSS. After hearing closing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, a five-man, seven-woman panel returned their verdict shortly after 9 p.m. that same evening.

The lawyer for the "Halle Berry" artist commended the jurors for their bravery in accepting not guilty, explaining that their decision made a powerful statement about both their community and those within it. She also mentioned three 911 calls played to them, one from a woman claiming Farris took his last breath at the gas station where shooting occurred.

Hurricane Chris has had a difficult time during the trial, but now that it is over, he can begin creating new music again. Since being indicted, he hadn't released any music, but with this case concluded fans hope he will put more focus into producing music!

After the trial was concluded, Hurricane Chris' attorney, Alex Washington, issued a statement. He applauded the jury for being brave and noted that they made an impact on their community; moreover, the rapper expressed gratitude to have them by his side throughout this ordeal.

Now that the trial is over, he can devote himself to his family and create new music. Although he only released a few songs during 2022, now that he's out of jail and free, fans can expect more new material from him in the near future.

Jurors cited a “Friday” character

On Tuesday night, a Shreveport jury returned an affirmative verdict in Hurricane Chris' murder trial. The "Playas Rock" rapper had been cleared of all charges related to shooting a man at Texaco station in June; additionally, he was accused of having illegally possession of a stolen car.

In a statement obtained by The Shade Room, Hurricane Chris' lawyer Alex Washington expresses gratitude to the jury for being so valiant in their pursuit of freeing his client from an eight-year prison sentence. Additionally, they were credited for many small but significant accomplishments during and after their lengthy session.

Hurricane Chris' jury-winning acquittal on all counts was one of them, which he attributed to the support of his family and fans. Though it had been a long road to get here, Hurricane Chris looks set for a brighter future ahead.

The Shreveport Times reports Hurricane Chris has a new trial date set for March 6. Despite multiple legal problems, it appears he may be on the path towards recovery as he is now free to move forward with his life and career.

Jurors heard three 911 calls

At Hurricane Chris' trial for second-degree murder, the jury heard three 911 calls. One was from a woman who reported being assaulted while riding in her vehicle.

She sounded extremely disoriented throughout the entire call, with sounds of chaos and other people speaking loudly in the background. The court determined that these statements satisfied a hearsay exception for excited utterances and were admissible evidence.

However, the tape did not qualify for admission under the res gestae exception since there had been no allegation of recent fabrication made. Nonetheless, it was admitted under the present sense impression exception since it met all other requirements set out for admission under that rule - reliability and relevance to the trial.

Harpster conducted an analysis of these two statements, developing a 911 call analysis program that has become popular with prosecutors and judges across several states. The Ohio Supreme Court has recognized Harpster's course for continuing education credits multiple times, and some prosecutors use it as evidence when charging suspects.

In the Carpenter case, both prosecution and defense attorneys agreed that Harpster's analysis did not prove the defendant guilty of murder, but it did suggest he may have lied during the call.

Prosecutors and judges have pointed to the Carpenter case to support their position that Harpster's analysis can be used as an expert witness during trial. But that isn't the only way this type of unreliable science can gain acceptance within the legal system.

Another issue is Harpster and his followers have created a bizarre zone between intent and accident, where there is little physical evidence to prove guilt. Once allowed onto the stand in one trial, their expertise can spread like wildfire almost undetected.

Particularly when the prosecution has never disclosed to their defense attorney consultations with Harpster or any other analysis of the 911 call, this can lead to unexpected surprises at trial as they don't have to reveal which witnesses they have already seen.

Jurors were acquitted of all charges

Hurricane Chris, best known for his hit song "A Bay Bay," was found not guilty of all charges after a jury found him not guilty of murder and possession of stolen items. In June 2020, the rapper was on trial for the death of 32-year-old Danzeria Farris Jr. after shooting him outside a Texaco store in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The rapper had been accused of shooting the victim in self-defense after allegedly trying to steal his car, which had been reported stolen in Texas. He was initially charged with second degree murder and possession of a stolen vehicle but the jury ultimately cleared him on all counts, according to KSLA.

Jurors were encouraged to discuss the case with all parties and witnesses who testified, though there was no requirement for them to do so. Furthermore, jurors could choose to leave the courtroom if they desired not to continue discussing it further.

On March 14, the jury returned their verdict after spending a full day deliberating and failing to reach consensus. This is known as a "deadlocked" or "hung" jury. At that point, the judge must make an informed decision as to how best proceed, which may include asking the jury for another verdict.

On Friday, prosecutors requested the jury to consider lesser charges instead. After two weeks of deliberating, however, jurors found Rittenhouse not guilty on all five counts: first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree attempted intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.

Prosecutors were not immediately available to discuss the jury's verdict, but they indicated it was a win for the prosecution. They maintained that defense arguments did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rittenhouse acted in self-preservation when he shot at Farris and Huber.

Prosecutors failed to present any new evidence in the case. Witness testimony only came from nine of 13 who testified. The jury heard about three 911 calls from witnesses, including one who stated Farris took his final breath at Texaco on Hollywood Avenue.