VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A jury found a 19-year-old guilty of second-degree murder in the death of a father at a house party in Oak Hill in 2019, who died three years later.
James Powell gave himself up to Daytona Beach police in February 2019. He was 15 years old when investigators said he and another teen crashed an Oak Hill house party and were told to leave, with Powell shooting the homeowner — Joel Tatro, 45, who was hosting the party for his high school children — leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.
Upon Tatro’s death in March 2022, an indictment was filed against Powell that included charges of aggravated battery, first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, records show.
Powell was found guilty unanimously by the jury of second-degree murder and aggravated battery.
Powell was found not guilty of the first-degree murder charge.
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Powell’s murder trial began Tuesday.
The Volusia County court heard from Wyatt Tatro — Joel Tatro’s son — that he knew the shooter from school, reiterating how the now-19-year-old was not invited to the house party.
The first witness called Tuesday was a Volusia County sheriff’s deputy who recorded body-worn camera video at the scene after the shooting. Jurors were shown clips from that footage.
Sentencing will happen on May 17.
This is a developing story. Check back with News 6 for the latest updates.
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