ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The man accused of shooting and killing a 37-year-old in St. Augustine Saturday morning has not been charged and was released from jail.
According to a police report released Thursday, the 30-year-old man said he was acting in self defense. Action News Jax chose not to name him because he has not been charged with a crime.
The report states, according to the shooter, he was outside Dos Gators talking to two other men when Adam Amoia, the victim, walked up to him and punched him in the face “three or four” times.
The responding officer said the man had a swollen and bloody lip and handed eye glasses “that had the arms bent”.
After the man was taken to the police department for questioning, police said he asked to call his parents and an attorney. According to the report, he also said “I’m sorry” and “I didn’t want him to die”.
Amoia moved to St. Augustine 15 years ago from New York and was a well-known entrepreneur who also worked at his family’s business.
“He’s going to be really missed. It’s going to be a huge loss for our community. It’s going to be a huge loss for young entrepreneurship here,” Hugh Ward, Amoia’s friend and business partner, said.
Action News Jax was at the victim’s candlelight vigil last weekend.
The St. Augustine Police Department released a statement Thursday and said the case as been passed off to the State Attorney’s Office for review.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Amoia family and our community,” it said in a statement.
Action News Jax Law and Safety Expert Dale Carson said self defense has three requirements: Fear of death or severe bodily harm, be in a place where you’re allowed, and the individual can’t initiate the dispute.
Carson said the State Attorney’s Office is reviewing all of the evidence.
From there, it will decide whether or not to prosecute.
The case could go before a judge to determine whether self defense was appropriate.
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