Judge declares mistrial in fatal shooting case

One juror wanted to apologize Friday to Lorraine Jermon of Central Islip, whose son was killed on Memorial Day two years ago. Another juror hugged Jermon after the two had a lengthy conversation as they left Suffolk County Court in Riverhead.

But the jury of six women and six men could not give Jermon what she really wanted - a verdict in the trial of Lavelle Todd, 20, the Central Islip man charged with killing her son, Robert Adams, 18.

Judge Martin Efman declared a mistrial Friday after jurors said for the fourth time in three days that they were deadlocked. Prosecutors said they would retry the case.

"It's not over 'till it's over," Jermon, a nurse, said after Efman dismissed the jury.

Prosecutors said Todd shot and killed Adams and wounded two other men during a party at the Central Islip Recreation Center. Todd, who pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges, testified he shot the men when an acquaintance of Adams reached for a semiautomatic weapon.

Todd's attorney, John LoTurco of Huntington, used a justification defense, requiring jurors to vote unanimously on whether Todd acted in self-defense.

Two jurors interviewed after they were dismissed said the panel never voted on the murder charge because jurors could not agree on whether the shooting was justified.

"It's an embarrassment," said Juror No. 12, who declined to give his name. He said he would have voted to convict Todd of murder.

"The system failed," said the 35-year-old air traffic controller, who hoped to apologize to Adams' family. "Justice wasn't served."

He and Juror No. 6, who identified herself only as Debbie, said two other jurors dismissed the testimony of gang members who appeared as prosecution witnesses. Those jurors believed "They were all liars and had to be thrown out," said Debbie, 53, a Dix Hills teacher.

She and Juror No. 12 said the majority of the panel would have voted to convict Todd of murder or manslaughter.

LoTurco said he was disappointed by the mistrial. "We were hoping at the very least the jury would acquit him on the murder charge," he said.

Todd, who remains held without bail, is due back in court Thursday.