Prosecutors Say Triple Shooting at Detroit Gas Station Was Self-Defense

It can often take months for prosecutors to decide whether or not to pursue charges in a shooting where the person who pulled the trigger acted in self-defense and defense of others, even when the circumstances appear to be pretty cut and dried. So, the fact that prosecutors in Wayne County have already decided that an April 19 shooting was a justified use of force is pretty incredible, especially since three people were killed in the shooting. 

The facts in favor of the armed citizen must be pretty compelling for prosecutors to swiftly conclude he did nothing wrong. According to Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller, the incident began early on the morning of April 19 when two cars got into an accident. 24-year-old Lester Owens III, 24-year-old Jasmine Sheeler, and 19-year-old Trevor Sheeler, Jr., who were all inside one of the vehicles, followed the other car (where the victim was a passenger) to a nearby gas station. Instead of trying to exchange insurance information or even wait for police to arrive to make a report, Miller says the trio opened the driver’s door and began attacking him. 

“During the physical altercation, the suspect, who was seated in the rear of the vehicle, fired a weapon, fatally wounding the three victims.”

Detroit police officers were called to the gas station at about 3 a.m. April 19 and found Jasmine Sheeler with a gunshot wound to the chest, while Owens and Sheeler Jr. were shot in the head.

“After a careful review of the facts and evidence,WCPO has determined that the warrant will be denied for insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect did not act in lawful self-defense and in defense of others,” Miller wrote.

Who needs more than ten rounds for self-defense? How about anybody who’s attacked by multiple assailants, or anyone who would try to come to their defense? 

Fox 2 in Detroit provided more details and context about the shooting, including the fact that everyone inside the two vehicles were allegedly taking part in an illegal street takeover when their cars collided. 

The red [vehicle] was chased to a nearby gas station by the group of four in a black vehicle. One of people from the group of four from the black car, was brandishing a Draco pistol at them. Then, the four apparently attacked the driver. 

A passenger in the red vehicle used his own Draco pistol firing at the people who died.

Gas station video surveillance cameras captured the moment a passenger in the red sedan opened fire after a member of the group opened the driver’s door.

The 22-year-old armed citizen, who had a valid Michigan carry license, was arrested by police at the scene. Thankfully, the gas station has surveillance cameras, and prosecutors were able to get a clear look at what happened. Given that one of the suspects (or the fourth individual who got away) brandished a pistol at the people inside the other car, the armed citizen would have a reasonable belief of death or great bodily harm once three individuals ripped open the driver’s door and began assaulting the individual behind the wheel. 

It sounds like prosecutors made the right call, and I’m glad they didn’t take weeks or months to reach their conclusions. It’s sad that three people lost their lives because they needlessly escalated this encounter to the point of great violence, but actions have consequences… and we the people have the right to protect ourselves and others when our lives are at risk. 

Editor’s Note: Self-defense is a human right, and one that’s inherently linked to our Second Amendment rights.

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