JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man was found guilty Friday evening in the shooting death of a 21-year-old man in a Southside nightclub in 2013, the State Attorney's Office said.
Lenard Anderson, 37, was convicted of manslaughter. The jury also convicted Anderson of an add-on charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Recommended Videos
Brandon Green, 21, was shot and killed at Mascara's Gentlemen's Club near Beach and Southside boulevards in September 2013 after he bumped shoulders with Anderson, police said.
Investigators said Green walked to a different area of the bar and Anderson followed him, pulled out a handgun and shot him one time.
Green's family was in the courtroom when the verdict was read. After walking out of the court house, family members said they feel like they have received justice.
"September 8, 2013 -- that day changed my whole life. My son was taken from me. And as of today, I think justice was served and another killer is off the street. He killed my son like he was an animal. And know he's going to be in jail, caged like an animal for 45 years," said Harriet McNeal, Green's mother.
Green's parents said the night their son was killed changed their lives forever.
"This is the only satisfaction I got, to know that he'll be a 70-year-old man coming out of prison. He can't hurt nobody," said Trenton Green, his father.
The Green family attorney, John Phillips, said Mascara's did increase security after the shooting. However, he said he is concerned about security at other nightclub's owned by the same man.
The same person who owns Mascara's, Milton Howard, also owns Silver Fox, where one man was killed and another injured in a shooting in March.
Anderson faces 45 years in prison. He will be sentenced the week of Aug. 26.