Deep Ellum Assault Trial: Man acquitted of most serious charge

DALLAS – A Dallas County jury returned both guilty and not guilty verdicts for a man accused of beating a woman in Deep Ellum.

Austin Shuffield was on trial for a 2019 fight that was captured on cellphone video. 

Jurors found him guilty of assault and obstruction but not guilty of the more serious aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge.

Prosecutors said Shuffield argued with L’Daijohnique Lee in Deep Ellum after she blocked the exit to a parking lot.

The video showed Shuffield knocking a phone out of Lee’s hand before she punched him. Shuffield responded by throwing five punches of his own.

The video also showed Shuffield pulling out a gun during the confrontation.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

The defense argued police officers who watched the video did not think Shuffield committed a violent crime.

Shuffield opted not to take the stand in his own defense.

Jurors deliberated for five hours Friday afternoon and then left for the weekend. They reached a verdict after deliberating for several more hours Monday morning.