Michigan police say that the homeowner who allegedly shot an unarmed 19-year old girl in the face last Saturday claims his gun discharged accidentally.
Renisha McBride was shot in the face at 3:40 a.m. on Nov. 2 while asking for help after a car accident, the Detroit Free Press reports. “This man’s claiming – believed the girl was breaking into the home,” chief detective Lt. James Serwatowski said. “And he’s also saying the gun discharged accidentally.”
Police seized the homeowner’s .12-gauge shotgun and are examining it, Serwatowski confirmed on Thursday. Earlier this week, the Dearborn Heights police department sent a request to Wayne County prosecutors for charges to be filed against the man. The prosecutors are seeking more information on the incident before deciding which, if any, charges to press against the homeowner, who has hired two lawyers to represent him, the Detroit News reports. The shooter’s name has not been released.
McBride’s friends and family held a vigil outside her home Wednesday, and activists are planning a demonstration Thursday outside the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 6 p.m. “Black life is not valued in America, not worthy, not respected,” said Yusef Shaker, one of the rally organizers.
The case has stirred up controversy on social media sites, as many compare Renisha McBride’s death to Trayvon Martin’s death at the hands of George Zimmerman last year. Michigan also has a “Stand Your Ground” law, which could shield the homeowner from murder charges, should the case come to trial.
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