It took less than two hours for a jury to find Davon Lymon guilty on all counts.
It’s been more than three years since the 38-year-old shot and killed Albuquerque Police Officer Daniel Webster. Friday, Webster’s family said justice was served.
Lymon did not show any emotion as the judge read the verdict, but behind him were tears, smiles and sighs of relief from Officer Webster’s family.
Thirteen days of trial, 45 witnesses and less than two hours of deliberation, is what it took for the family of APD Officer Daniel Webster to hear these words:
“We find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree.”
After District Court Judge Neil Candelaria read the unanimous verdict Friday afternoon, Officer Webster’s widow Michelle Webster and former Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden broke down in each other’s arms.
“I never thought the day would come when this would finally be over. It’s over,” Michelle Webster, widow of Officer Daniel Webster, said.
Michelle Webster will tell you it wasn’t easy to sit feet away from the man who murdered her husband, but that she did it for justice.
“He was such an amazing man, such a great man, an amazing husband, and just…my best friend, their dad,” she said.
Lymon gunned down Officer Webster in October 2015 after Webster stopped him on a stolen motorcycle.
The defense surprised everyone, including the prosecution, by admitting Lymon killed Webster in self-defense. In the end, the jury didn’t buy it.
“As Michelle said, justice has been served, and that man will never walk a city street the rest of his life,” former Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden said.
Before the verdict was read, KRQE News 13 cameras caught Lymon cursing and saying he knew he was about to be convicted.
Following the verdict, Albuquerque police officers lined up outside District Court in support of Officer Webster’s widow, Michelle. She thanked the department for being there, saying the last time she saw officers lined up was for a horrible reason, and now it’s over.
It was also an emotional day for the police department’s former and present chiefs.
“I’m very sad that Dan’s not here to celebrate with us, but he is in spirit, and I think that’s what we all need to remember. As Michelle said, justice has been served,” Former APD Chief Gorden Eden said.
Eden sat in the courtroom every day as testimony played out. He and current APD Chief Mike Geier, who worked with Webster, said now everyone can move forward.
“It takes a little bit of all of us when this happens, and you know, as much time goes on the healing takes much longer, and we are always there thinking of them and doing our job better for them,” Chief Geier said.
After the verdict, the defense said they feel sorry for both sides, but that the blame can’t be placed just on Lymon.
Attorney Gary Mitchell said he thinks APD still has a lot of work to do.
“It does emphasize the wide gap between poor people and people of one race and APD, and APD’s got a lot of work to gain a lot of confidence with that community,” Mitchell said.
At sentencing, Lymon faces life in prison without parole.
He’s already serving 38 years behind bars on federal charges related to the case.
Related Coverage:
-
Lymon finishes testimony in murder trial, case prepares to head to jury
-
Accused cop killer Davon Lymon testifies in court, defense calls for mistrial
-
Witness testifies whether Officer Webster followed department guidelines during traffic stop
-
Reluctant key witness describes Ofcr. Webster’s conduct in Lymon murder trial
- Prosecution tries to undermine Lymon’s self-defense claim in murder trial
