Detroit Man Charged with Murder for Shooting Woman on His Porch
Theodore P. Wafer, the Detroit homeowner who shot and killed 19-year-old Renisha McBride earlier this month, has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, the Associated Press reports.
McBride, a black woman, was reportedly in a car accident in the mostly white suburb of Dearborn Heights early in the morning on November 2, and is believed to have arrived at Wafer's porch seeking help. He shot her in the face, later claiming that his firearm went off accidentally. After nearly two weeks, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has concluded there isn't substantial evidence to suggest the shooter acted in self-defense, though details of the incident remain murky:
Few details of the circumstances surrounding the shooting were made public before the news conference. Police say they believe McBride was involved in a car accident several blocks north in Detroit before the shooting. A toxicology report released Thursday showed she had alcohol and marijuana in her system.
Wafer is also charged with possession of a firearm during the attempted commission of a felony or commission of a felony.
There were also reports this week that McBride's blood-alcohol level was about the legal limit, but police say there is no evidence that she tried to break into the home, which would be grounds for self-defense.
Given the delay between the incident and arrest, the allegations of self-defense, and the racial dynamics at play, the case has deservedly drawn heavy national debate and ample comparisons to the Trayvon Martin shooting. Wafer has not been arrested yet, but prosecutors are hoping he will turn himself in.
RELATED: Detroit Woman Killed by Homeowner While Trying to Find Help
This article was originally published at http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/11/detroit-homeowner-charged-murder-shooting-woman-his-porch/71649/
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