• On Thanksgiving day in 2010, a former ice cream truck driver named Michael Keetley was arrested and put on trial in Hillsborough County, Florida, for the murder of two brothers and the wounding of four other victims. 
• The event became known as the ice cream man double murder, with many details still murky after the tragic occurrence. 
• The prosecution alleges that Keetley’s motivation for the shooting was revenge after he was shot several times during a previous robbery while operating his ice cream truck. 
• The defense argues that Keetley could not have committed the crime due to his injuries during the robbery.
• In case Michael is convicted, he will face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Thanksgiving day in 2010, a former ice cream truck driver named Michael Keetley was arrested and put on trial in Hillsborough County, Florida, for the murder of two brothers and the wounding of four other victims. The event became known as the ice cream man double murder, with many details still murky after the tragic occurrence. 

Although there has been media attention surrounding the incident, it is still unknown why exactly this heinous act occurred. 

The trial is still ongoing and all parties await justice to be served. Either way, both families have suffered an immense loss that can never be taken back, leaving them both in mourning.

The prosecution alleges that Keetley’s motivation for the shooting was revenge after he was shot several times during a previous robbery while operating his ice cream truck. 

The defense argues that Keetley could not have committed the crime due to his injuries during the robbery.

During the opening statements, Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Johnson told jurors that “obsession about getting revenge is what was on the defendant’s mind” on the day of the shooting. 

She claimed that Keetley was upset that he was injured during the robbery and that no one else had to pay for it. The prosecution argued that this led to his decision to carry out the shooting.

On the other hand, Defense Attorney John Grant maintained that Keetley was not guilty because he did not commit the crime. 

He argued that Keetley was not medically capable of shooting anyone due to the injuries he sustained during the robbery.

A previous trial on the murder ended without a verdict when jurors could not agree. One of Keetley’s defense attorneys died of cancer, and another became a judge. 

The current trial began with the prosecution and defense presenting their opening statements.

The prosecution argued that there was strong evidence tying Keetley to the crime, including ballistics evidence and eyewitness identifications. 

The defense argued that the eyewitness identifications were weak and that they could poke holes in the prosecution’s case through cross-examination and presenting their witnesses.

The trial lasted several days, and the jury deliberated for a day before announcing that they were deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The judge declared a mistrial and set a new trial date for Keetley.

The victim’s mother and other shooting survivors were present in court during the mistrial announcement and appeared discouraged and disappointed. Assistant State Attorney Jay Pruner addressed them, saying, “It’s not over; we do it again.”

Keetley has maintained his innocence throughout the nearly decade-long wait for his trial. If convicted, he faces a life sentence in prison, as the state has ended the pursuit of the death penalty.

Opening statements begin on Monday in Tampa. In case michael is convicted, he will face life in prison without the possibility of parole.