SelfDefense Archives

Tragic Shooting in Douglass Park: White Lifeguard Claims Self-Defense After Fatal Attack on Two Black Teens Raises Questions of Racial Motive

Chicago — A shooting at Douglass Park on the West Side left one teenager dead and another hospitalized, sparking outrage and calls for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The alleged shooter, a 55-year-old man, claims he was acting in self-defense when he opened fire on the two boys, both of whom were unarmed at the time. According to police reports, the shooting occurred around 7 p.m. when the gunman approached the two …

Chollas View Man Sentenced to 19 Years to Life for Neighbor’s Fatal Shooting Amid Self-Defense Claims

San Diego, Calif. — A man was sentenced to 19 years to life in state prison on Friday after being convicted of the second-degree murder of his neighbor. Eugene Martinez, 52, faced charges related to the November 2022 shooting death of Anthony Haro, 33, in the Chollas View neighborhood. The fatal incident occurred during the early hours of November 14, when San Diego police responded to a report on the 700 block of 44th Street. …

Prosecutors Conclude Coconut Creek Shooter Acted in Self-Defense in Fatal Teen Incident

Coconut Creek, Florida — A recent investigation into a shooting that resulted in the death of a teenager in Coconut Creek has led prosecutors to conclude that the shooter acted in self-defense. The incident, which has sparked considerable public interest, involved a confrontation that escalated and culminated in the tragic loss of life. Authorities reported that the event unfolded late last month when an altercation broke out between two groups of individuals. During the confrontation, …

Joshua Hitchcock Claims Self-Defense in Father’s Fatal Shooting During Court Testimony

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — During a recent court session, Joshua Hitchcock recounted the harrowing circumstances leading to the fatal confrontation with his father, asserting that the act was one of self-defense. The emotional testimony added a haunting layer to the proceedings, shedding light on the tragic incident that has deeply affected both families involved. Hitchcock described a series of escalating altercations between him and his father prior to the incident. He testified that moments before …

Trial of Michael ‘Buzz’ Davis Unfolds: Self-Defense Claims Amid Tumultuous Events Leading to Fatal Shooting of Jamea Harris

Tuscaloosa, Alabama — The capital murder trial of Michael “Buzz” Davis resumed Wednesday, with witnesses providing gripping testimony in a case stemming from a deadly confrontation that occurred earlier this year. The courtroom was filled with tension as both prosecutors and defense attorneys scrutinized the events of January 15, when Jamea Harris was tragically shot during a clash between Davis and Harris’ boyfriend, Cedric Johnson. The prosecution presented several witnesses, who recounted the chaotic moments …

Former Massachusetts Doctor Confesses to Killing Wife in Court, Claims Self-Defense During Dispute

DOVER, Mass. — In a harrowing courtroom confession, a former Massachusetts doctor acknowledged that he murdered his wife and disposed of her body in a pond, claiming he acted out of fear during an altercation. Ingolf Tuerk, formerly a prominent urologist at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, provided this testimony during his trial on Tuesday, revealing the chilling details of the May 2020 incident that led to the death of 45-year-old Kathleen McLean. Tuerk, 63, …

Self-Defense or Excessive Force? Tulsa Man Fatally Shoots Attacker Wielding Bat

TULSA, Okla. — A violent confrontation in east Tulsa ended in tragedy Monday when a man who was attacked with a bat shot and killed his assailant, according to police reports. The incident, which escalated from a simple altercation outside a residence, is now under investigation as local authorities dissect the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting. The event unfolded around 2:45 p.m. near the intersection of East Admiral Place and South 193rd East …

Jury Deliberates in High Stakes Trial of Suspect Accused in Kendal Crank’s Death Amid Claims of Self-Defense and Police Misconduct

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Deliberations commenced Monday in the Charlotte courtroom where Adonis Smith stands trial, facing allegations involving the death of Kendal Crank in 2019. Smith’s legal representation acknowledges the shooting but contends it was accidental, asserting it did not constitute intentional murder. The incident triggered by an exchange of gunfire in a local parking lot, where Smith purportedly returned fire while in a state of panic, remains central to the defense’s argument. His attorney, …

Closing Arguments Heard in Vancouver Park Caretaker Murder Trial: Self-Defense Claim Challenged Amid Gruesome Evidence

Vancouver, Canada — The final arguments were presented in the trial of Brent White, 54, accused of the brutal murder of 77-year-old Justis Daniel, a beloved caretaker found dead at his residence in Tatlow Park nearly three years ago. The case, deeply rooted in shocking allegations and defense claims of self-defense, unfolded in the B.C. Supreme Court, capturing the unsettling details of a crime that has haunted the local community. Daniel was tragically killed on …

Family Tragedy Unfolds in Mustang as Elderly Man Fatally Shot by Son-in-Law; Police Probing Self-Defense Claim

MUSTANG, Okla. — Authorities are delving into the circumstances surrounding a fatal shooting in Mustang, a typically quiet suburban town, where an elderly man was shot and killed inside his home following a family dispute this past Saturday. The incident, which took a lethal turn amidst an argument allegedly involving several weapons, occurred near the intersection of Mustang Road and State Highway 152. According to Deputy Chief William Carpenter of the Mustang Police Department, 71-year-old …