Trial begins for Orlando May, accused of killing Southern Miss football player MJ Daniels
Daniels was shot and killed while sitting in his car, which was parked in front of his apartment in Hattiesburg on June 11, 2024. He was 21 years old and entering his senior season as a defensive back for the Golden Eagles.
May, one of four suspects charged in Daniels' killing, is charged with capital murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, taking possession of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm and felony eluding law enforcement.
His trial started Tuesday with jury selection at Forrest County Courthouse before 12th District Circuit Judge Robert Helfrich.
"The State is going to prove that on June 11 a year ago, Marcus Daniels Jr. was sitting in his black Dodge Challenger outside his apartment … when the defendant and his three partners … saw movement in the vehicle," Assistant District Attorney Corey Cranford said in his opening. "He (May) shot twice into the vehicle and shot Marcus Daniels twice in the head."
Defense attorney John Helmert told the jury they would hear a lot of confusing statements that he expects will create enough reasonable doubt to find his client not guilty.
"Orlando May is presumed innocent," Helmert said. "And as you listen to the evidence and hear testimony from witnesses, you'll have a reasonable doubt about whether Orlando May committed the crime."
Testimony from witnesses is expected to begin following a lunch break.
Three others were charged in Daniels' death. Each pleaded guilty and may testify at May's trial. They will be sentenced at a later date.
Allen Marcus Gardner and Shamir Green pleaded guilty in February to first-degree murder. Gardner also pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Other charges against Gardner and Green will be dropped upon acceptance of the pleas.
Gardner, 18, and Green, 17, represent the second and third suspects to plead guilty to murder charges in connection to Daniels' death. Nytavion Shaw, 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in October.
Former Southern Miss beat writer Sam Sklar contributed to this story. Sklar is now the Mississippi State Bulldogs beat writer for the Clarion Ledger.
Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.
This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Trial begins for Orlando May, accused of killing USM's MJ Daniels
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