A Chicago man was found guilty Saturday of first-degree murder for giving a gun to his niece to handle a Facebook dispute.
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According to the Chicago Tribune, 27-year-old Donnell Flora was convicted over an April 2014 incident in which he gave his then-14-year-old niece a .38-caliber revolver, which prosecutors say the teen then carried to confront Endia Martin, also 14, at a South Side home over threats made against her on the social media website.
"He became her provider—the provider of a handgun," Assistant State's Attorney Barbara Bailey said in court about Flora, who uses a wheelchair after a 2010 shooting left him paralyzed, according to the Tribune.
"When there were about 1,000 other options that could've been taken by an adult; he chose to continue the cycle," Bailey said.
Flora’s niece, who has been charged as a juvenile and has not been named, reportedly confronted Endia and a friend, Lanekia Reynolds—who reportedly posted the threats. Endia and Lanekia emerged from the house, with Lanekia carrying a chain with a lock, when Flora's niece allegedly opened fire, killing Endia.
"These were not mere threats," Flora's attorney Joel Brodsky said. "They were, 'I'm going to kill you. I'm going to put you in the ground next to your dad.'"
Flora's "only intent was to protect his niece. It was not the brightest idea he ever had. But it doesn't change the fact that that was his intent," Brodsky said.
Flora's niece is now 16 and has yet to stand trial.
Read more at the Chicago Tribune.
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