Death penalty waived for two suspects in 2021 Miami-Dade club mass shooting
Two of the four suspects facing murder charges in the 2021 Northwest Miami-Dade club shooting that killed three people and injured 20 others won’t face the death penalty.
Prosecutors in a Wednesday filing waived the death penalty for Willie Hill, 28, and Allen Chambers, 31, accused in the mass shooting at El Mula Banquet Hall, 7630 NW 186th St., in the Country Club of Miami area.
The other two men charged in the shooting — Eugene Holmes, 24, and Jacaree Green, 22 — weren’t facing the death penalty.
All four men, who were charged with a slew of offenses, including murder and attempted murder, remain behind bars in Miami-Dade without bond. Killed in the gunfire were Clayton Dillard III, Desmond Owens and Shankquia Peterson.
During a hearing Thursday, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez said she estimated the trial would begin in spring 2027. That would be almost six years after the May 29, 2021, shootings — and more than three years since Davonte Barnes’ conviction in September 2023.
Barnes, who prosecutors say was a lookout the day of the banquet hall shooting, was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder and 20 counts of second-degree attempted murder. Even though he was acquitted of a conspiracy to commit murder charge, Tinkler Mendez sentenced Barnes to life in prison.
Barnes is appealing his conviction and sentence.
READ MORE: Miami jury convicts ‘lookout’ in El Mula banquet hall mass shooting on string of charges
Barnes, prosecutors say, helped plan the attack and scoped out the area hours before the shooting but left just before the gunshots.
In an interview with police, Barnes said the target was Opa-locka’s “Back Blues” gang member and local rapper Antonio “Foepack” Jones, who had issues with “Bricks” gang member Chambers.
Barnes, however, said he thought Jones would be snatched from El Mula, where he was releasing some of his music, and shot somewhere else.
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 4:46 PM.
