GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A jury has found Eugene Javon Patrick, 24, guilty of second-degree murder and carrying a gun without a permit. The judge, James Colaw, has given him a life term.
Bobby Bernard Hopkins, Jr. was shot and killed at the Swamp Car Wash on May 22, 2021. Patrick was caught and charged with the murder.
Gainesville Police found that Patrick and Hopkins had been fighting for a long time and that Patrick pulled out a gun and killed Hopkins during the fight.
Patrick pleaded guilty to manslaughter on April 13. Manslaughter is a lesser crime that can get you up to 15 years in state jail.
In the plea deal, both sides decided that Patrick would get 15 years in state prison, with credit for the 682 days he had already spent there. On April 24, Judge James Colaw was to give Patrick his sentence.
But on April 25, Patrick changed his mind and asked that the case go to trial. At the time, a press release from the Office of State Attorney Brian Kramer said that Patrick could get 25 years to life in jail if he was found guilty.
Assistant State Attorney Ryan Nagel was in charge of the prosecution team at today’s hearing. Four witnesses were called by the State. After deliberating for two hours, Patrick was found guilty of both charges and given a life term.
