Convicted felon found guilty in murder

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Jacksonville jury deliberated 27 minutes before finding Shawn Devernon Shanks guilty in the 2009 murder of Willie Bell III. The jury found Shanks guilty of Second Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

In August 2009, Shanks got into a verbal argument with Bell at a car wash on McDuff Avenue. Two friends, who were with Shanks, tried to convince him to leave the area and end the argument  but Shanks refused. The then-40-year-old pulled out a handgun and shot Bell one time in the face. Bell, 44, died at the scene. Shanks argued he shot Bell in self-defense.

"It’s been three long years for Mr. Bell’s family. I am happy that the family now has some closure with this verdict," said Assistant State Attorney Jeff Moody.

A three-time convicted felon, Shanks has convictions for two counts of burglary and one count of possession of cocaine. He faces up to life in prison. Shanks will be sentenced in October.