JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man accused of killing a 24-year-old college student outside a St. Johns Town Center nightclub in March will have to defend himself in court after his Stand Your Ground petition was denied Thursday, News4Jax has learned.
The judge also set a trial date of Jan. 29 for Toray Ricketts, 25, in the shooting death of Sina Sharifai.
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Ricketts is being held without bond in the Duval County Jail.
Sharifai's family said he was breaking up a fight outside the Suite nightclub at the Markets at Town Center when he was shot twice.
Ricketts claimed he fired in self-defense after Sharifai punched him in the face, knocked him to the ground and continued to punch him.
Police said they were called to the club on Big Island Drive about 2:10 a.m. after an argument in the club spilled over into a fight in the parking lot. Witnesses said Ricketts went to his car, got a gun and returned, according to police.
Jacksonville police said two off-duty officers working at the club heard shots, responded and saw Sharifai running away from Ricketts, who was running after him with a gun.
Sharifai was taken to UF Health Jacksonville, where he died.
Ricketts was charged with second-degree murder and having a concealed firearm.
Sharifai's cousin and uncle said he was a graduate of Nease High School and was about to graduate with a bachelor's degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville. He planned to move to Washington, D.C., and wanted to be a counselor.