Opening statements in the trial of two men accused of killing 13-year-old Prince Holland began on Wednesday.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Opening statements commenced on Wednesday afternoon following a three-day jury selection in the trial related to the murder of 13-year-old Prince Holland.
The fatal shooting of Holland took place on December 3, 2022, as he was traveling home from football tryouts in an SUV with four others. The attack also severely injured an 11-year-old passenger and the adult driver, who was a youth football coach. Fortunately, two other teens in the vehicle were unharmed.
The trial focuses on two defendants: Marcel Johnson and Kentrevious Garard. They are both accused of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and multiple counts of attempted second-degree murder. Each will be judged by his own jury and legal team, with separate verdicts to be delivered.
Prosecutor William Devlin Grauel told jurors both men acted together in what he described as a calculated, gang-related shooting.
Investigators pointed to Johnson’s identification through a social media post, two days post-incident, where he appeared in an Instagram Live video holding a semiautomatic handgun and mentioned a person “fighting for his life” at UF Health Jacksonville.
Defense for Garard suggested he was the shooter based on testimony from a cooperating driver who claimed to have handed Garard the gun, which Garard then used to shoot into the victims’ SUV.
“The reason for the rap videos is to illustrate the connection and friendship between Garard and Johnson,” explained Grauel to the jury, referring to drill rap songs that prosecutors argue demonstrate their associations and conflicts.
The state says phone records will show attempts to cover tracks, including Garard searching online for whether police could trace SIM cards and later looking up Johnson’s name in the Duval County Jail.
Johnson’s attorney, Peter Glenn Venuti, cautioned jurors not to be swayed by tragedy, saying:
“This trial is not about emotion or tragedy. It is about evidence. The evidence against Marcel does not prove he participated in the shooting.”
Venuti highlighted that the murder weapon was later used in another shooting, suggesting others had access to the firearm. He also emphasized that no eyewitness has placed Johnson at the crime scene.
For Garard, attorney John Joseph Cascone argued the state’s case relies on speculation and weak phone evidence.
“What you are going to hear about is a foolish, tragic act of vengeance between adults that left their playground spill over into gun violence,” Cascone said, insisting prosecutors cannot prove Garard fired the weapon.
The trial is expected to feature numerous witnesses, though some are deemed sensitive by the State Attorney’s Office and will not be shown on camera.
First Coast News is streaming the trial live on First Coast News+ as testimony continues.
