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Andrew Coffee IV NOT GUILTY: Florida verdict sparks comparisons with Kyle Rittenhouse

Just hours after Rittenhouse's verdict was read, Andrew Coffee IV was found not guilty on all counts of murder and attempted first-degree murder

In the aftermath of the verdict acquitting Kyle Rittenhouse, many people on social media, including some Democrats have argued race matters in the justice system. Ironically, in Vero Beach, Florida, a Black man received a similar verdict over another shooting at his home the same day. It led many on the Internet to mock those arguing that Rittenhouse would have been found guilty if he was Black.

Leading Democrats like Rep Jerry Nadler and Governor Kathy Hochul have slammed the verdict in the Rittenhouse case, while President Joe Biden did an abrupt u-turn to say he was "angry and concerned". It's also led some conservatives to wrongly claim people want to "burn down" Kenosha, with the phrase 'burn it down' trending on Twitter. But, if race was the key to the verdict, it appears Florida had a strong change of heart.

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On November 19, just hours after Rittenhouse's verdict was read, Andrew Coffee IV was found not guilty on all counts of murder, and attempted first-degree murder. The Indian River County Sheriff did register his disappointment, but like Rittenhouse, Coffee is now a free man, even though he is Black.

Coffee found not guilty over 2017 shooting

During an early-morning raid on Coffee's house in 2017, SWAT team members and Coffee exchanged gunfire, leading to his girlfriend Alteria Woods getting caught in the crossfire. Woods was hit by 10 bullets and died, leading to Coffee and two law enforcement officers being charged for her death. The two officers were later exonerated by a grand jury, leaving Coffee as the sole defendant in the case.

He was slapped with six charges including second-degree murder, and attempted murder of a law enforcement officer for the gunfight. The jury deliberated for 11 hours following the trial, where Coffee insisted, that he fired in self-defense, the same argument Rittenhouse made. "Clearly, that there was some overreaction and overreach by the sheriff's department on that raid. They should have pulled back, they didn't. And this is what happens when you go into a volatile situation without all the information," said Coffee’s attorney Adam Chrzan after the verdict.

Coffee was, however, found guilty of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. He faces up to 30 years on that charge since he has four felony convictions. Reportedly, he plans to appeal the guilty verdict on that count and ask for time served. Barring that count, the fact he was found not guilty of shooting Woods has led social media to talk about the case, and how race played no part in the verdict.

'This is very perplexing' says social media

"I’m black. Kyle killed 3 white men who tried to kill him while BLM and antifa burnt down America. Andrew Coffee, a black man, shot police as they raided his home and got off TODAY. Cut it out," one user tweeted. Another said, "People saying Rittenhouse would be found guilty if he were black ought to read about the Coffee verdict, which, as it happens, also came down today." Another slammed, "Not guilty on all five counts by reason of self-defense. No, not Kyle Rittenhouse. Andrew Coffee. The actual situation the left is trying to spin hypotheticals about, saying the opposite would occur."

"If you say Kyle Rittenhouse would’ve been found guilty if he were black look at the case of Andrew Coffee," one person tweeted. Another mocked, "I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT IF ANDREW COFFEE IV WERE BLACK, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES! Wait a minute...I'm being told that Andrew Coffee IS actually black. This is very perplexing as I have been reliably informed that this doesn't happen." One user said, "What do #AndrewCoffee and #KyleRittenhouse have in common? Both charged with murder. Both deservedly acquitted, citing self-defense, on the same day. #WhitePrivilege is a lie."

Other users were quick to slam the claims, noting that the two cases couldn't be compared because the shootings occurred under very different scenarios. Some users also pointed out the hypocrisy of Coffee being charged for possession while Rittenhouse's possession charge was dropped.

Coffee also faces up to 30 years in jail, while Rittenhouse is a free man. We'll leave it to you to decide whether that's a sign of racial bias in the legal system or not.