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Father of man fatally shot at gated community in 2016 talks about how frustrating the case has been. Video by Michael Braun

Ryan Douglas Modell, 32, who died in a Lee County development March 20, 2016.(Photo: Special to news-press.com)

The father whose son was shot and killed in south Lee County in 2016 when he mistakenly knocked on the wrong door wants the governor to appoint anindependent state attorney and let a grand jury review the case.

A letter written by attorney Mark O'Mara, who represents Sandy Modell, the father of Ryan Modell, was sent via Federal Express to the governor's office Monday.

Modell remains adamant that his son was murdered and cant understand why the man who he accuses of the shooting hasnt been arrested.

"Mark is simply asking the governor to reassign it to get the same objective state attorney review we've been asking for," Modell said.

The state attorney's office for the 20th district, in March, decidednot to bring chargesagainst James Taylor, the man who shot Ryan Modell.

Death of 32-year-old justified under Stand Your Ground, no charges for shooter

Sandy Modell talks about the March 20, 2016, shooting at the gated Emerson Square community in south Lee County that claimed his son Ryan's life.(Photo: Michael Braun/The News-Press)

The state attorneys office said Taylor was justified under Floridas Stand Your Ground law to kill Modell because he feared for his life.

The law was made infamous after George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder charges in the 2012 death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford. O'Mara represented Zimmerman in the Martin case.

According to the state attorneys office, Modell was a well-developed, well-nourished man who stood at 6-foot-1 and weighed 224 pounds. Modell was 32 when he died.He lived with his girlfriend at an apartment that was identical to Taylors.

While Ryan Modell was walking back to his girlfriends Emerson Square apartment in south Lee County around 2 a.m. on March 20, 2016, he mistook one apartment for another and tried opening the door, his dad and girlfriend said. He was allegedly confronted by Taylor and fatally shot.

Sandy Modell says that State Attorney Stephen B. Russell should be supportive of the request.

"There should be no [problem with this," he said. "If they did a responsible job they should support it."

"We made our decision and found it was an appropriate Stand Your Ground application and will have no further prosecutorial action," said state attorney spokeswoman Samantha Syoen. "It was reviewed by Assistant State Attorney Dan Feinberg of our Homicide Unit."

O'Mara, in the letter to the governor, says: "Even when told in the light most favorable to Mr. Taylor, his own words, the facts do not justify the shooting death of Ryan Modell. This is not an instance of self-defense. This is an unjustified homicide."

Lee County father looking for answers in son's shooting death

Sandy Modell said that no matter what happens it would be small comfort.

"This is not about guns, the Second Amendment or Stand Your Ground," Sandy Modell said. "It's about murder. We're looking for an objective review."

He said that if the review was granted and a murder charge eventually levied he would be a "little less miserable."

He also said the request has no downside for the governor.

Father, friends remember man shot in south Lee County

If he denied it, Sandy Modell said, it would be a vindication for the local state attorney's office.

"If it is approved," Sandy Modell said, "the governor prevents a travesty."

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Originally posted here:
Review of south Lee 'Stand Your Ground' case sought - The News-Press