Orlando Man Found Guilty in Downtown Shooting Death of Retired Army Corporal
Orlando, FL – A jury in Orange County has convicted 29-year-old Shaun Marvin Engram Jr. for the murder of retired U.S. Army Corporal Joseph William Torres. Engram was found guilty of Second Degree Murder with a Firearm following a shooting incident that occurred on May 2, 2021, in downtown Orlando.
Details of the Incident
At around 2:30 AM, as the streets filled with patrons leaving nearby bars, officers from the Orlando Police Department heard gunfire near the intersection of East Central Boulevard and North Orange Avenue. They quickly responded to the scene, where they discovered 34-year-old Torres with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Sequence of Events
Detectives later reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby establishment that captured the incident in its entirety. The video footage revealed that Torres, accompanied by a friend, was walking towards his vehicle when he encountered a group of individuals, including Engram, who were obstructing the sidewalk. According to the video, Torres attempted to navigate through the group but was stopped by Engram extending his arm.
In an attempt to defend himself, Torres punched Engram in the face and turned to flee. This did not deter the group, which began to physically assault Torres. Just after being hit, Engram brandished a firearm and shot Torres three times, leading to his fatal injuries.
The Arrest
Officers identified Engram as the shooter through the surveillance footage and took him into custody on May 5, 2021. During the pretrial hearings, Engram sought to invoke Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, claiming he acted in self-defense. However, the court dismissed this defense, clarifying that the evidence demonstrated Engram was the aggressor and that Torres was fleeing the scene.
Trial and Verdict
The trial lasted four days, culminating in the jury’s decisive verdict. They found Engram guilty on all charges related to the murder, including a special finding that he had discharged a weapon that caused Torres’s death. Engram’s actions were deemed unjustifiable given that Torres was not posing a threat at the time of the shooting.
Sentencing Ahead
Engram is scheduled to be sentenced on January 31, 2025. As the community grapples with the senseless loss of a man who served his country, the case has raised questions about safety in downtown Orlando and the ramifications of gun violence.
The tragic event has resonated throughout the city, serving as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of violent confrontations. The guilty verdict aims to bring some measure of justice to the family of the victim and underscores the ongoing challenges regarding public safety.
