A Florida man was found not guilty in the shooting death of his mother after he took the stand and said he was trying to protect her from his father when the gun he drew went off accidentally.
NBC Miami reported that Deltoro Jr. cried and hugged his attorney upon hearing the verdict. Other family members sobbed in the courtroom, saying "thank you Jesus."
Alexander Deltoro, Jr., now 33, was acquitted of manslaughter charges in the December 2019 death of his mother. The incident followed a dinner to celebrate Deltoro, Jr.'s birthday. Local 10 reported that on the way home, he and his father began arguing.
The fight continued and turned physical after the family arrived home. Deltoro Jr. testified at his trial that he reacted when he saw his father reach into his pocket for something, the station reported.
He testified that he yelled at his father, "Leave us alone!" and "Get away from us!" The station reported that he said he then began to draw a 9mm Glock handgun: "I went to raise the gun. That's when he came in with his left arm, and he smacked the gun out of my hand ... At that point, the gun went off."
Cindy Deltoro, 60, was struck in the head when the round discharged.
Deltoro, Jr. faced manslaughter, a first-degree felony; carrying a concealed firearm, a third-degree felony; and battery, a first-degree misdemeanor.
