Ohio Man Convicted Of Killing Two Teens He Caught Smoking In His Garage

Victor Santana Found Guilty Of Murder For 2019 Shooting Of Two Teens

An Ohio homeowner has been convicted for the fatal shooting of two teens he caught smoking inside a vehicle in his garage.

Dayton resident Victor Santana,65, fatally shot Devin Henderson and Javier Harrison, both aged 17, in August 2019 after he discovered them smoking marijuana in his garage.

According to NBC News, Santana wanted to use the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law as part of his defense but a judge ruled that it couldn’t be applied to the teens’ deaths earlier this year. His attorney, Lucas Wilder, claimed that’s Santana feared for his life after seeing the two boys entering his property through the front gate.

“In that moment, fear hits him and he decides to shoot,” he said during the hearing.

A third person, Ja’shin Gibson, was present during the shooting and hid under the car. He stated during Santana’s court hearing that the homeowner opened fire and shot the teens without warning.

Santana will be sentenced on Dec. 20 and he will remain at the Montgomery County Jail. Prosecutors said Santana didn’t have any prior criminal history but his actions took away the lives of two teens who were innocent.

“Mr. Santana who really had nothing in his history that would seem to make him a bad guy… but his actions took the lives of two innocent kids. So yes, we were very happy that the jury would follow the law. The law was clear Mr. Santana had a duty to retreat. He did not do that. Instead, we ended up with two dead teenagers and that’s tragic,” said Kim Melnick of the prosecutor’s office.