Court Opinion

ID: 9891591
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-19 00:00:35.764448+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:43:27.690456
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-60076         Document: 00516936110             Page: 1      Date Filed: 10/18/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                      ____________
                                                                                United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Fifth Circuit
                                       No. 23-60076
                                     Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                     ____________                               October 18, 2023
                                                                                  Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                           Clerk

                                                                       Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   Devadrick Markevin Booker,

                                               Defendant—Appellant.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Southern District of Mississippi
                               USDC No. 3:20-CR-134-1
                      ______________________________

   Before Wiener, Stewart, and Douglas, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Devadrick Markevin Booker was convicted by a jury on one count of
   forcibly assaulting a federal officer engaged in the performance of his official
   duties, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a) and (b), and one count of discharging
   a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, a violation of 18 U.S.C.
   § 924(c)(1)(A).

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-60076      Document: 00516936110          Page: 2   Date Filed: 10/18/2023

                                    No. 23-60076

          On appeal, Booker challenges only the sufficiency of the evidence and
   argues that the Government failed to show that he was not acting in self-
   defense. Booker preserved the issue, so we apply de novo review. See United
   States v. Frye, 489 F.3d 201, 207 (5th Cir. 2007). When reviewing a
   sufficiency of the evidence challenge under de novo review, we give
   substantial deference to the jury verdict. United States v. Chon, 713 F.3d 812,
   818 (5th Cir. 2013). “We do not consider whether the jury correctly
   determined innocence or guilt, but whether the jury made a rational
   decision.” United States v. Nolasco-Rosas, 286 F.3d 762, 765 (5th Cir. 2002).
   Although Booker stated that he believed it was the same person or persons
   from an earlier shooting returning to the scene, the jury has the authority to
   weigh conflicting evidence and evaluate the credibility of testimony. United
   States v. Grant, 683 F.3d 639, 642 (5th Cir. 2012).
          The Government sufficiently refutes a claim of self-defense to a § 111
   charge if it shows that “the defendant knew of the victim’s status or that the
   defendant’s actions were not reasonably justified.” United States v. Moore,
   958 F.2d 646, 649 (5th Cir. 1992). Under these factual circumstances, we
   agree with the Government that a rational jury could have found that
   Booker’s decision to shoot at the vehicle was not reasonably justified. See
   Nolasco-Rosas, 286 F.3d at 765; Moore, 958 F.2d at 649.
          AFFIRMED.

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