JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Cory Hall is a free man after a Duval County jury found him not guilty of murder and attempted murder in connection with a 2021 shooting inside a downtown Jacksonville restaurant.
Hall, who was 29 years old at the time of the incident, had spent four years in jail without bond awaiting his trial and was facing charges of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man acquitted of all charges in connection with 2021 deadly double shooting at Jacksonville Hyatt
The shooting, which took place on Sept. 4, 2021, occurred inside the restroom of Morton Steakhouse, located in the Hyatt Hotel.
Hall told the jury he was attacked by two armed men who followed him into the restroom and tried to rob him. He said he shot both men in self-defense.
Jonathan Jordan, one of Hall’s Miami-based defense attorneys, said, “At the end of the day, the bottom line is the jury found that Mr. Hall was justified in defending himself...They found Mr. Hall’s actions were justified in using deadly force to defend himself from a robbery attempt that was going to be committed against him...We were pleased with the verdict.”
Another defense attorney, Andrew Rier, said Hall testified that he saw guns on the victims and fired first to protect himself. “It was either kill or be killed,” Rier said.
The defense team explained that Hall was wearing flashy jewelry at a party in the restaurant when the two armed men, who were not guests, followed him into the restroom and attempted to rob him.
“One of the state witnesses confirmed Mr. Hall looked one way before entering the bathroom and looked a different way when he came out,” Jordan said. “The indications were that there was a physical struggle.”
Conrad Clifton, another defense attorney, noted, “Whether he was armed or not, he did not expect to be robbed that night or expect to have an interaction in the bathroom.”
After being acquitted, Hall left the courtroom and was reunited with his young son, ending four years of waiting behind bars.
Charges were also dropped for Paige Gallon, who was also arrested on an accessory charge.