Charges Filed Against Man Who Shot Young Black Woman In The Face After She Was In Car Acciden

[warrior1]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/adriancarrasquillo/charges-filed-against-man-who-shot-young-black-woman-in-the

Theodore P. Wafer, 54, faces charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of 19-year-old Renisha McBride.



Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced Friday that the 54-year-old Dearborn Heights, Mich., man, who fatally shot an unarmed black woman in the face, will be charged with second-degree murder.

Worthy said that in addition to the second-degree murder charges — which could carry a life sentence — the man, Theodore Paul Wafer, will be charged with manslaughter, which could be up to 15 years in prison, and a firearm possession charge that would come with a mandatory two-year jail term if he is convicted.

She also revealed a new detail: Wafer opened the door of his home but shot McBride through a closed and locked screen door.

Michigan law says there is no duty to retreat when you are in your own house, similar to controversial “stand your ground,” laws across the country but someone who claims lawful self-defense must have “honest and reasonable” belief of imminent death or great bodily harm against themselves or another person. “We do not believe he acted in self-defense,” Worthy said.

snip

[Blue_Tires]

1. So when does the NRA start scratching out checks to his defense fund?

Or, will the D.A. take a dive in this case like in the Zimmerman trial?

[firsttimer]

2. At first I thought he was involved in the traffic accident by the article

She was asking for help after she crashed into a car and the home owner thought
it was a home invasion?

What the hell happened here?

[csziggy]

3. It's not at all clear - but there does not seem to be a reason to shoot

New details emerge on Renisha McBride's accident in hours before her slaying
3:14 PM, November 12, 2013

It was shortly before 1 a.m. Nov. 2 and Renisha McBride was involved in an accident with a parked vehicle in Detroit.

More than two hours later and six blocks away, she was shot in the face by a man who told police he thought someone was breaking into his Dearborn Heights home. The 54-year-old homeowner, according to police, said his 12-gauge shotgun discharged accidentally.

More: http://www.freep.com/article/20131111/NEWS02/311110088/Renisha-McBridge-autopsy

Witness said Renisha McBride appeared intoxicated, injured after striking car
2:42 PM, December 18, 2013
Carmen Beasley heard a loud noise outside in the early morning hours of Nov. 2.

She called 911, looked outside and saw a car had struck her husband’s vehicle. She then saw a woman holding her hands to her head as she walked away. The woman came back, and Beasley asked if she was OK.

“She just kept saying she wanted to go home,” Beasley said today while testifying in court.

Hours later, that woman was shot to death on the porch of Theodore Wafer’s home in Dearborn Heights.

More: http://www.freep.com/article/20131218/NEWS02/312180106/Renisha-McBride-Theodore-Wafer-preliminary-hearing-porch-fatal-shooting

[raccoon]

6. Accidentally, my right hind foot. I hope this trigger-happy fool is nailed. nt

[csziggy]

7. So do I. n/t

[Iggo]

13. What the hell happened here?

Seeking assistance while black, that's what.

[grahamhgreen]

18. Black on the porch!

[Bandit]

4. I seem to recall his first defense was the gun went off accidentally.

It will be very hard to claim "stand your ground" or whatever they call it when you are in your home when you already admitted that was not the case.

[csziggy]

8. The gun was tested and expert opinion was it could not go off

Accidentally:

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy previously said McBride was shot through a screen door. Firearms examiner David Balash, who is retired from the Michigan State Police, testified for the defense that in his opinion, McBride would not have been more than 2 feet from the gun when she was shot.

<SNIP>

Wafer told police the gun accidentally went off. Detective Sgt. Shawn Kolonich, a Michigan State Police firearms expert, testified that without pulling the trigger, the gun wouldn’t go off.

Balash said he test fired the shotgun. He said it was difficult to understand the opinion of the assistant medical examiner who said there was no evidence of close-range firing.

More: http://www.freep.com/article/20131218/NEWS02/312180106/Renisha-McBride-Theodore-Wafer-preliminary-hearing-porch-fatal-shooting

[firsttimer]

10. This case gets more bizarre each time more evidence is posted

[redqueen]

5. GOOD nt

[NutmegYankee]

9. Took 'em long enough!

You can't shoot someone through a screen door on your porch and claim self defense. And who the hell answers the door with a shotgun?

[firsttimer]

12. Someone who believes someone is breaking in their house 1 am in the morning?

I'm not defending the guy but you asked.

[NutmegYankee]

14. If someone thought that, they would not open the door.

If the intruder smashes past a deadbolt, then you have a valid claim. This guy opened his door and shot through the screen door.

[firsttimer]

17. I agree

No one would open the door .

[uponit7771]

23. Good point

[etherealtruth]

19. It may have taken some time, but I had faith in Kym worthy

... she is an extremely smart and methodical prosecutor. She tends to wait until she has her "ducks in a row"

In this case I was not concerned that she would not act.

[NutmegYankee]

21. If you live there I can understand that.

From the outside, the delay was too "Florida-like" for comfort.

[Cali_Democrat]

11. So let me guess....right wingers have jumped to his defense?

Unarmed black woman shot dead by white man.

Gee...I wonder whose side the GOPers will take?

[Iggo]

15. They'll take the side of the gun-fucker.

Of course.

[Cali_Democrat]

16. Especially if the person who was shot is an unarmed black person

They are so predictable.

Predictably racist.

[dionysus]

20. poor Renisha... hope they nail that bastard.

[freshwest]

22. +1