A Michigan prosecutor said a man carrying a concealed gun who shot and killed two people with a single shot at a Detroit Lions tailgate on Sunday acted in self-defense and will not be charged.
Photo credit: Stephen King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cellphone video showed the fight at Eastern Market, with the gunman, Jaylen Welch, allegedly pointing a gun at a 40-year-old man. WJBK-TV reportedPolice said the 40-year-old man, who was legally carrying a concealed handgun, fatally shot Welch with one bullet in the head, and also fatally shot an innocent bystander, Rayshawn Palmer, in the head.
“My client is very happy that he will not be charged with a crime. It has been an agonising three days sitting in jail awaiting sentencing.”
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy argued the shooting was lawful self-defense, adding that Palmer was simply trying to intervene, WJBK reported.
“In this case, the shooter was not involved in a physical struggle or crime when Mr. Welch pulled out a firearm and threatened him with deadly force,” the department noted in Worthy's affidavit. “It was only at that time that the shooter pulled out a firearm and shot Mr. Welch once, and unfortunately, Mr. Palmer as well. After a thorough review of the facts and evidence, we find that the shooter acted in lawful self-defense. The shots were justified. There is insufficient evidence to charge the shooter with a crime.”
The shooter's attorney told WJBK in a statement: “My client is very happy that he will not be charged with any crime. Sitting in jail for three days awaiting sentencing has been painful. He is dealing with a range of emotions. He feels terrible for the bystander's family and wishes to express his condolences, but is happy to be going home to his family. His right to act to protect his life and others is absolute. He has done nothing to waive that right.”
Palmer's family is saddened by his death and outraged that the shooter has not been charged.
“I just can't believe that an individual would shoot someone in a situation like this, even if they had a CPL,” Palmer's brother, Jermaine Little, told the station. “It could have been a 5-year-old. Unfortunately the shooter is my brother and our whole family is here. We are heartbroken. We are hurting and we want some answers.”
Little added to WJBK, “We have lost a brother. He wanted to contribute to society, he did, he loved his family, he was not a violent person, he loved to dance. He just wanted to entertain people and for this to happen and for there to be any attempt to stop what was happening is unacceptable.”
Palmer's family also told the station they plan to appeal the non-prosecution decision.
“We're not going to give up,” Little told WJBK, adding, “We have to come out here every day, post something, march, do whatever we want. We just want answers. Give us answers…”
You can watch the video report here About that incident.
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