Dennis Aviles Found Guilty of Manslaughter With a Firearm In 2014 Shooting of Tahnika Duppins

By  //  October 25, 2017

FACES LIFE IN PRISON FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND

A jury found Dennis Aviles, 36, guilty of manslaughter with a firearm after a weeklong trial at the Brevard County Justice Center in Viera on Tuesday.

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – A jury found Dennis Aviles, 36, guilty of manslaughter with a firearm after a weeklong trial at the Brevard County Justice Center in Viera on Tuesday.

Aviles is facing life prison for killing his girlfriend in 2014. Judge Charles Holcomb will sentence him in December.

According to the Cocoa police, on August 28, 2014 Aviles called 911 to report that he and his girlfriend, Tahnika Duppins, 32, were robbed at gunpoint and she had been shot.

“Aviles told detectives two black males came to the couple’s home on Johnson Street to buy crack cocaine,” said Yvonne Martinez, Cocoa Police Public Information Officer. “Aviles said a struggle ensued and that’s when his girlfriend was shot.”

The investigation later revealed Aviles made up the story and three other versions of a story in an attempt to shift blame away from himself.

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The evidence and witness testimony yielded the conclusion that Aviles shot his girlfriend on purpose after an argument with her. After hearing all the evidence, the jury of four women and two men concluded Aviles committed manslaughter with a firearm.

The jury also found Aviles guilty of tampering with evidence and making false reports to law enforcement.

“Prosecutors did an excellent job explaining the evidence to the jury,” said Cocoa Police Detective Debra Titkanich.

“It was the right verdict. I’m glad that Ms. Duppins’ family will now begin to experience a sense of closure. Mr. Aviles took a mother away from her daughter, child away from her parents and sister away from her siblings. Our justice system prevailed.”

Aviles may still face trial for an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to the Cocoa police, on August 28, 2014 Dennis Aviles called 911 to report that he and his girlfriend, Tahnika Duppins, 32, above, were robbed at gunpoint and she had been shot. The investigation later revealed Aviles made up the story and three other versions of a story in an attempt to shift blame away from himself.

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