Bachman, 19, of Fort Dodge, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after he shot James, 14, four times on June 17, 2023, in the 1200 block of First Avenue North.

The jury’s decision was unanimous, although defense attorney Judd Parker asked that jurors be heard before the court adjourned.

As the verdict was read by District Court Judge Christopher Polking, Bachman’s girlfriend and witness to the murder, Kiera Summers, wept openly. His grandmother put her hands to her face and cried. Bachman remained stoic.

Bachman’s first-degree murder trial began last Tuesday in Webster County District Court. Prosecutors rested their case on Monday. Defense attorneys closed their case Tuesday.

Closing arguments began Wednesday morning. Assistant Webster County District Attorney Bailey Taylor argued that Bachman’s words and actions proved that he “He willfully, deliberately and premeditatedly killed Dakari James.”

Taylor referenced the more than 50 text and Snapchat messages that were exchanged between Bachman, James and witness Elijah Hunt on the day of the shooting.

“Isaac Bachman told you on the stand that he was scared, but he still got involved with Dakari James, even telling her ‘if you want to take my girl away, I’ll kill you'” Taylor said.

Taylor said Bachman deliberately waited for James to come to his house, even sitting in a lawn chair with his gun, and when James arrived “She looks him in the eye and shoots him.”

“He brought a gun to a fist fight,” Taylor said.

Parker, however, told jurors in closing arguments that Bachman was scared for his and Summers’ safety, and when James stepped over the gate, he fired to protect himself and his girlfriend.

“He was at home on his property, while Dakari James is the one who brought the fight,” said Parker who was focusing on your basic defense.

Parker showed the jury the multi-body video cameras and Ring cameras that were introduced into evidence during his closing arguments. When video of the sound of the gunshots was played for jurors, Bachman’s grandmother gasped audibly as she covered her face.

“He tried to break into my gate” Bachman said in body camera footage shown to jurors. “I’m not worried. I don’t feel good about it.”

Parker said his client’s calm demeanor and willing admission to the officers showed his client was not erratic, as witnesses for the state claimed.

“Isaac had clear and distinct remorse after being told that Dakari had died.” Parker said.

Parker also said Bachman admitted to sending many of the text and Snapchat messages that Taylor referenced in evidence, although he acknowledged that the texts he sent from prison were insensitive.

“It’s not in the jury instructions to say something nice afterwards,” Parker said. “The state’s case is words, not pretty words, but words teenagers use.”

Parker told jurors the state had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and asked the jury to find Bachman not guilty.

However, Taylor followed up by reminding the jury that Bachman invited James to his home and said it was for a fist fight, while Bachman had a gun.

“This is not a base case,” Taylor said. “What this case is, is to provoke a person to come and then kill them.”

After the guilty verdict was read, Bachman was immediately taken into custody by the Webster County Sheriff’s Department, where he is being held without bond. In Iowa, the penalty for first degree murder is life in prison without the possibility of parole. Bachman will be sentenced on December 6.