Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cristina Miranda declared a mistrial on Mar. 2, 2026, after a six-person jury deadlocked in the second-degree murder trial of former University of Miami Hurricanes football player Rashaun Jones, accused of shooting teammate Bryan Pata execution-style outside his apartment nearly 20 years ago.
The jury deliberated about six hours on Thursday and two more hours on Monday before reporting they could not reach a unanimous verdict. Jurors reviewed evidence, including witness testimony and the bullet from Pata's body, but remained unable to agree.
One anonymous juror later stated only one of six favored a conviction, calling the prosecution's case weak and circumstantial without proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors have 90 days under Florida law to decide on a retrial with a new jury, according to CBS Sports.
Hearings resumed Tuesday morning, including defense motions for bond reduction. Jones, 40, has remained jailed since his 2021 arrest and maintains his innocence.
Pata, a 6-foot-4 defensive lineman projected for the 2007 NFL Draft, was shot in the head on November 7, 2006, hours after practice at his off-campus apartment. Police long eyed Jones as a suspect due to prior fights, jealousy over ex-girlfriend Jada Brody, and his possession of a .38-caliber revolver matching the murder weapon's caliber, Fox Sports reported.
Prosecutors highlighted Jones' two-game suspension that day for a failed drug test, cellphone records contradicting his alibi, and a suspicious call for money. They argued that years of ill will boiled over into the killing.
A key witness, former UM instructor Paul Conner, picked Jones from a photo lineup after seeing a man near the scene, though the defense challenged his identification due to darkness and time elapsed. Firearms experts linked Jones' gun type to the bullet, but no direct forensic match existed.
Teammates testified to tensions between Jones and Pata, including physical altercations. Defense stressed police delays in charging and unexamined leads like other confessions and conflicts.
Pata's brother Edwin expressed family frustration but resolved to fight on. Jones' attorney, Sara Alvarez, said her client stays strong with faith.
The case gained traction after ESPN's 2020 reporting prompted Jones' arrest. Retrial decisions loom as both sides prepare next steps, as per ESPN.
