Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
On Thursday, Dec. 3, a jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial of Brad Cameron Whitfield. Whitfield had been charged in connection with a shooting that claimed the life of Kenneth McQuay, Jr. on Sunday, July 5. Whitfield was found guilty of the lesser charge of Manslaughter. The jury could have instead found Whitfield guilty of second degree murder. In addition to the manslaughter conviction, the jury also found that the State proved "beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant (Whitfield) personally carried or used a firearm during the commission of the manslaughter." This statement is significant because, according to defense attorney Richard Hornsby, the use of a firearm increases the severity of the crime to a level eight offense severity, and is assessed an additional 18 sentencing points for possession of a firearm under Florida's Criminal Punishment Code. This means that the minimum prison time faced by Whitfield is 11 and a half years, unless the judge finds evidence of mitigating circumstances that would warrant a lesser sentence. Whitfield could face up to 30 years in prison. On the charge of aggravated battery, Whitfield was found "not guilty."
According to a report by the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), deputies responded to the scene of a shooting off of SE Old County Camp Road. When officers from the MCSO and the Madison Police Department (MPD) arrived on the scene, they were informed that two adult males had arrived at Madison County Memorial Hospital in personal vehicles. One of those was McQuay, who was pronounced dead as a result of a fatal gunshot wound. The other victim had sustained non-life-threatening injuries. A third victim was also shot and was transported to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare in a personal vehicle.
The MCSO, MPD, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and Leon County Sheriff's Office pooled their investigative efforts, which resulted in the identification and swift arrest of two suspects: Whitfield, 30, a resident of Monticello and Derices Devon Dunlap, 24, of Greenville. Whitfield was originally charged with murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and aggravated battery by firearm. Dunlap was originally charged with accessory after the fact. On Wednesday, Aug. 19, a notice of Nolle Prosequi was filed, effectively dropping the charges against Dunlap in exchange for his cooperation in the investigation.
An official sentencing date of Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 has been set for Whitfield.