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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It took a Hillsborough County Jury nearly two full days of deliberations to reach a verdict in the trial of five men accused in the shooting death of 4-year-old Suni Bell.
In the end, the jurors found all five defendants guilty of all of the charges against them.
In August of 2021, the little girl was was riding in the back seat of her family car as they drove down Hillsborough Avenue.
Shots were fired into the car, killing the child. Tampa Police called it a senseless act of violence.
Zvante Sampson, Jaylin Bedward, James Denson, Quandarious Hammond, and Andrew Thompson are charged with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and shooting into a vehicle.
Early Wednesday, jurors came back with three questions for Judge Robin Fuson.
The judge reading the questions in court, while the jury waited in their deliberation room for answers.
The first question indicating the jury was nearly set with their decision.
“On each count, does it have to be unanimous on the degree of guilty?” Fuson said. “Example, if 11 people say first-degree murder and one person says second-degree murder, does that mean they get charged with second-degree murder.”
However, it would take several more hours for a verdict to be announced.
Just before 4:00 p.m., the jury was read in court, each defendant guilty of each of the charges against them, including the most serious charge of first degree murder.
Suni Bell’s mother thanked State Attorney’s and the jury for their work.
“I don’t wish bad on anyone,” Mary Harrison said. “I’m just glad I got justice for my baby.”
Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said it’s the verdict they’ve been waiting for.
“Every day of this trial and ever since Suni died, that’s been our mission is to get justice and today we got justice for her family and her and with the outcome, we are grateful for the juries service,” Lopez said.
Fuson will pronounce sentences for all five men on Oct. 27.