Bradenton man convicted after fatally shooting girlfriend on her birthday
A Bradenton man could spend life in prison after a Manatee County jury found him guilty of shooting and killing his girlfriend on her 27th birthday.
Jurors found Nicholas Shermer, 28, guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm in the 2023 killing of Amanda Shoaf. They reached a decision after about an hour and a half of deliberation Wednesday afternoon following a three-day trial presided over by Circuit Judge Frederick Mercurio.
The conviction comes nearly 20 months after investigators said Shermer called 911 on Aug. 27, 2023, and told dispatchers he shot Shoaf after an argument in the couple’s apartment at the Carlton Arms complex in Bradenton.
A central question in the trial focused on Shermer’s intent and state of mind during the killing. Prosecutors said Shermer’s actions demonstrated “a depraved mind without regard for human life.” The defense argued that Shermer may have pulled the trigger out of frustration, not hatred, and urged jurors to consider manslaughter if they convicted him.
Prosecutors highlight details of shooting
Prosecutors told jurors that Shermer and Shoaf were arguing on the day of the shooting after her grandmother said she didn’t want him at Shoaf’s birthday dinner with family that night. They pointed to Shermer’s repeated comments about Shoaf’s grandmother during his police interview as evidence of lingering anger and resentment.
At one point, prosecutors said Shermer described Shoaf’s grandmother as “vile” and told investigators that she was the reason for the couple’s problems.
During Wednesday’s closing arguments, Assistant State Attorney Garrett Franzen pointed to evidence that suggested Shermer fired up to six rounds, hitting Shoaf with four bullets. Investigators said she was killed “almost instantly” by the fourth shot.
Defense pushes for manslaughter conviction
Shermer’s attorney, Anne Estevez-Hunter, told jurors that while Shermer admitted to shooting Shoaf, he did not act with hatred or spite. She said Shermer was overwhelmed during an emotional argument and could not recall the “exact details,” including how many times he fired or which gun he used. Shermer owned at least five firearms, according to detectives.
Estevez-Hunter emphasized that Shermer called 911 and didn’t withhold information during the investigation.
“He was honest with law enforcement, almost to a fault,” she said.
Shermer’s 911 confession used as key evidence
In the 911 call, police said Shermer admitted to shooting his girlfriend after an argument. He also said he blacked out and could not believe what happened, the Bradenton Herald previously reported. When police dispatchers asked Shermer again what happened, he replied, “her grandmother,” according to an arrest report.
Shermer told detectives he was upset Shoaf had to choose between him and her family, according to an arrest report.
According to an arrest report, Shermer told detectives Shoaf blocked the bedroom doorway during the argument and that he grabbed a gun from either a dresser or a nightstand before firing.
Investigators said Shermer waited about 10 minutes before calling 911 and first contacted his grandmother. They also said Shermer told them he destroyed his cellphone shortly after making the emergency call, according to an arrest report.
Prosecutor reacts to guilty verdict
Following Wednesday’s guilty verdict, prosecutors said they hoped the outcome would bring some peace to Shoaf’s family.
“We are very pleased with the jury’s verdict and thankful that the family of Amanda Shoaf can begin to feel some closure after losing Amanda to a senseless act of domestic violence,” Franzen said in a written statement.
What happens next?
Under Florida law, second-degree murder with a firearm is a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison. Shermer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
