Burney Pleads Guilty to 2022 Murder, Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Quinton Burney pleaded guilty to Second-Degree Murder in the 2023 killing of Dawood Salman Mnaathar Allafee. Following the plea, the Honorable Jeb Branham sentenced Burney to 45 years in Florida State Prison.

On the morning of Oct. 17, 2022, officers were notified about a dead body outside of a Norwood Avenue restaurant. During the investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office learned the victim — Allafee — was an employee of the restaurant. Video surveillance from the business showed Allafee entering the building just after 10 a.m. to open the restaurant, and Burney followed closely behind. A short time later, the surveillance footage showed Burney chasing Allafee around the business before shooting him with a firearm multiple times. Burney stole Allafee’s cellphone and keys and broke into the restaurant’s cash register. Burney then left the restaurant in Allafee’s car. Police put out a citywide alert for the car, which was later found parked at a Northwest Jacksonville boat ramp. Police saw Burney get in the car and drive off; officers then pulled Burney over and took him into custody. During a post-Miranda interview, Burney confessed to the crimes and said he threw the firearm out of the car window when he was driving. 

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Annie Maguire.