JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- John Atkins recently watched the Michael Dunn murder trial not expecting to see his son whom he he had seen just once in the past 22 years.
Shawn Atkins, who was wearing prison chains, testified in the trial. He wrote down the license plate number of Dunn's vehicle following the fatal shooting in November of 2012. In 2013, Atkins was arrested and convicted of various felonies in Clay County and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
"I am happy getting to see my child again. I am trying to help him the best I can," said Atkins from his Westside apartment.
Atkins said his former wife got in the way of him seeing his son. The last visit he had with Shawn was when he was eight years old, said the dad.
Shawn, 22, was housed in the Duval County Jail during the trial and for two weeks after, but since been transferred back to prison in West Florida.
"Kind of nervous to be honest with you," said Shawn in describing his first contact with his dad in 15 years.
By phone from the Duval County Jail, Shawn said, "My mom made him seem like a bad guy. I never got to know him because of it ... I actually love my dad quite a bit."
"Trying to help him the best I can," said John, who along with his daughter visited Shawn several times during Sunday jail visitation hours.
"Jail is a very humbling place and you really know who family is when they start spending time with you," said John, who is trying to catch up on lost time with a son who he discovered by chance while watching a murder trial.
