Judge sets May retrial timeline for ex-UM player Rashaun Jones in Bryan Pata murder case

New court dates follow a hung jury in the long-running Bryan Pata homicide prosecution

A Miami-Dade judge has set the next steps toward a retrial for Rashaun Jones, a former University of Miami football player charged with second-degree murder in the 2006 killing of teammate Bryan Pata. The schedule comes days after the first trial ended without a verdict when jurors reported they were unable to reach unanimity.

The mistrial was declared on March 2, 2026, after deliberations by a six-person jury. The case is being retried nearly two decades after Pata, 22, was shot outside his apartment complex in Kendall on November 7, 2006, a few hours after football practice. The murder weapon was never recovered.

What happened at the first trial

Prosecutors presented a case built around both direct and circumstantial evidence, including testimony about relationships within the team, the events surrounding the night of the killing, and investigative work that resumed years after the case went cold.

A central component of the state’s evidence was recorded testimony from Paul Conner, a retired University of Miami writing instructor who lived at the apartment complex at the time of the shooting. His prior recorded statements were played for jurors after the court found he could not reliably testify in person. In the recording, Conner described hearing a loud noise and then seeing a man leaving the area shortly afterward. He also identified Jones in a photo lineup during the investigation and later reaffirmed that identification.

Jones pleaded not guilty and did not testify in the first trial. His attorneys have argued that the prosecution’s evidence is largely circumstantial and that Jones remains presumed innocent.

Retrial scheduling and bond dispute

After the mistrial, attorneys returned to court to address logistics for a second trial. The court calendar discussions pointed to a May 2026 timeframe, with an additional hearing set to finalize a specific start date.

The defense has also sought a reduction of Jones’ bond, asking the court to lower it from $850,000 to $50,000 while the case awaits retrial. Jones has remained in custody since his August 2021 arrest in Ocala, following the filing of second-degree murder charges in Miami-Dade County.

Key dates in the case

• Nov. 7, 2006: Bryan Pata is fatally shot outside his Kendall apartment complex.

• Aug. 2021: Rashaun Jones is arrested and later charged with second-degree murder.

• Feb. 2026: Trial testimony includes recorded witness statements presented to the jury.

• Mar. 2, 2026: Judge declares a mistrial after jurors report a deadlock.

• May 2026 (tentative): Court planning indicates the next trial could take place, pending scheduling.

The retrial will determine whether prosecutors can secure a unanimous verdict in a case that has stretched across two decades and multiple phases of investigation.

Further hearings are expected to address the final trial date and pretrial matters, including bond and evidentiary issues, before the case returns to a jury.