BREAKING: Jury Trial for Alleged Conch Town Shooter set for January
Judge sets trial date with jury selection tentatively to begin on Jan. 12.
The long-delayed jury trial for alleged Conch Town shooter Lloyd Preston Brewer III is now tentatively scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 12, at 8:45 a.m. in Courtroom A of the Freeman Justice Center.
Circuit Judge Mark Jones set the date after granting a postponement earlier this fall, citing extraordinary circumstances following the death of defense attorney Cara Higgins.
Brewer’s lead attorney, Jerry Ballarotto, was appointed as the inventory attorney for Higgins’ practice, a responsibility that required him to manage her legal affairs while preparing for Brewer’s trial.
State’s Objection to Trial Delay
The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office formally objected to the continuance, urging Judge Jones to set a trial date before the third anniversary of Hughes’ death.
Prosecutors argued that repeated delays had compounded the family’s pain and that extending the trial into 2026 risked undermining community confidence in the judicial process.
“Each additional delay compounds the anguish suffered by the family of the victim,” the filing stated.
Judge Jones, while sympathetic, ultimately ruled that defense counsel needed more time and set the tentative start for Jan. 12, 2026.
The Monroe County State Attorney’s Office objected to the continuance, arguing the trial should proceed sooner to ensure a conclusion before the third anniversary of the shooting. Prosecutors said the Hughes family had already endured repeated delays and should be spared “any undue anguish” caused by further postponements.
Brewer faces charges in connection with the Feb. 12, 2023, shooting death of Garrett Hughes, a 21-year-old Key West man, outside Conch Town Liquor & Lounge following the Super Bowl.
Prosecutors say Brewer confronted Hughes in the parking lot before fatally shooting him, sparking outrage across the island.
Both Brewer and Hughes come from longstanding and prominent Key West families, adding to the visibility of the case.
Hughes, remembered as a well-liked Key West High School graduate, was considered part of the next generation of Conchs. Brewer, whose family has deep business and civic ties, faces accusations that have put old island loyalties and divisions under a microscope.
The prosecution has described the shooting as an unjustified killing, while the defense has argued self-defense. The case has drawn widespread attention as one of the most high-profile homicide prosecutions in the Keys in recent years.
In September, Jones denied a motion to accept an appearance bond because the collateral proposed by the defendant was valued less than the $3m amount set previously.
Jones wrote: “This cause, having come before the Court upon the Defendant’s Motion for Approval of Appearance Bond and the Court, having considered said motion and the Court file and being otherwise fully advised in the premises hereby finds as follows:
A hearing is not necessary for resolution of this motion because the Court has previously conducted relatively lengthy hearings addressing pretrial release of the Defendant.
As a result of previous hearings, the Court established very clear and detailed conditions for the Defendant’s release which took into account the concerns of all interested parties and which were designed to assure his presence at Court proceedings and prevent danger to the community as a result of the Defendant’s release from jail.
The Court finds that the modification to the conditions of release now sought by the Defendant constitutes a major change which raises the Defendant’s flight risk to unacceptable levels.
“Wherefore, it is hereby Ordered and Adjudged That the Defendant’s Motion for Approval of Appearance Bond is DENIED.”
If Brewer can post the $3m bond, he will be allowed to leave the Monroe County Detention Center where he has been since his arrest.
Whether or not that happens remains to be seen.
Timeline of the Brewer Case
Feb. 12, 2023: Garrett Hughes, 21, is shot and killed outside Conch Town Liquor & Lounge following the Super Bowl. Brewer is arrested and charged with homicide.
2023–2024: Case proceeds slowly through pretrial motions as defense challenges evidence and witness statements.
June 2024: Monroe County Grand Jury issues a separate report on corruption in City Hall, adding further scrutiny to ongoing high-profile cases including Brewer’s.
Sept. 2025: Judge Mark Jones denies motion for bail, ruling Brewer posed a flight risk.
Oct. 2025: Trial postponed after defense attorney Cara Higgins’ death; co-counsel Jerry Ballarotto named inventory attorney, requests additional time. State Attorney’s Office objects, urging trial before third anniversary of the shooting.
Jan. 12, 2026 (tentative): Jury trial set to begin at 8:45 a.m. with jury selection in Courtroom A of the Freeman Justice Center.
The MCSAO has previously said that more than 1,000 summons were issued to pull together a jury pool. Attorneys are expected to probe views on firearms, self-defense, and community ties, given the prominence of both families. Seating a jury may take several days.
Once the jury is seated, the trial could run two to three weeks, depending on the number of witnesses and motions.
Eyewitnesses outside Conch Town the night of the shooting, forensic experts, and responding officers are expected to testify. Brewer himself could take the stand if the defense pursues a self-defense argument. Surveillance videos depicting the chain of events are also expected to play a pivotal role in the trial.
If convicted of first-degree homicide, Brewer faces a potential life sentence; Lesser included charges, such as manslaughter, could also be considered depending on jury instructions.
The case has become a flashpoint in Key West, with residents watching closely as two prominent local families are at the center of one of the island’s most consequential trials in decades.
Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of their peers.