The long-running murder case involving former University of Miami football player Bryan Pata has ended in a mistrial nearly 20 years after his death.
Pata, a standout defensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes, was shot and killed outside his Miami-Dade apartment on November 7, 2006, just hours after football practice. For years the case remained unsolved until investigators arrested former teammate Rashaun Jones in 2021 and charged him with second-degree murder.
Jones has consistently maintained his innocence.
After a recent trial in Miami-Dade County, jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. In Florida, a six-person jury must agree unanimously on a conviction or acquittal. After multiple hours of deliberation, the jury informed the judge they were deadlocked, leading the court to declare a mistrial.
Reports later indicated that most jurors were leaning toward acquittal, citing a lack of direct evidence and concerns about testimony presented during the trial.
Prosecutors have indicated they intend to retry the case, meaning the legal battle surrounding Pata’s death may continue as his family still seeks justice nearly two decades later.