Mr. Shepard was charged with first-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident involving death. The jury found him guilty of a lesser included offense, involuntary
manslaughter with a weapon. The trial court increased the level of conviction from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony upon the jury’s finding that Mr. Shephard
used a “weapon,” his automobile, during the commission of the crime. Mr. Shephard appealed to the First District Court of Appeal arguing an automobile is not a weapon,
and the second-degree manslaughter was improperly reclassified. The 1st DCA agreed with the trial court. This appeal followed arguing the ruling conflicts with decisions of another appellate court and this Court.

Watch more oral arguments from 6/6/18:

Gwendolyn E. Odom v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, SC17-563

Orlando Noa v Florida Insurance Guaranty Association, SC17-738

Thomas Theo Brown v. State of Florida, SC17-1538