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Donnell Flora; Endia Martin
NBC Chicago Screenshot
A Chicago man was found guilty Saturday of first-degree murder after he reportedly gave a gun to his niece to handle a Facebook dispute.
According to the Chicago Tribune, in April 2014, the 14-year-old teen went to confront Endia Martin at a Southside home over threats made against her on the social media website. What Endia didn’t know is that the teen, who has not been named, was reportedly carrying a .38 revolver given to by her uncle 27-year-old Donnell Flora, who uses a wheelchair after a 2010 shooting left him paralyzed.
“He became her provider — the provider of a handgun,” Assistant State’s Attorney Barbara Bailey said in court, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“When there were about 1,000 other options that could’ve been taken by an adult, he chose to continue the cycle.”
Flora’s niece, who has been charged as a juvenile, reportedly confronted Endia and a friend, Lanekia Reynolds—who reportedly posted the threats— emerged from the house carrying a chain when Flora’s niece allegedly opened fire killing her Endia.
“These were not mere threats,” Flora’s attorney Joel Brodsky. “They were, ‘I’m going to kill you. I’m going to put you in the ground next to your dad.'”
Flora’s “only intent was to protect his niece. It was not the brightest idea he ever had. But it doesn’t change the fact that that was his intent,” Brodsky said.
Flora’s niece is now 16 and has yet to stand trial.
Read more at the Chicago Tribune.
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