Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has determined that no charges will issue against a 40-year-old Oak Park man in the Eastern Market shooting that left two people dead.
According to the Wayne County Proscutor, It is alleged that there was an altercation involving several men near Shed 6 in Eastern Market shortly before the police arrived.
The shooter was not involved in the physical fight but was nearby. Shortly after, a group of approximately five men were involved in a verbal argument.
Prosecutors say the evidence shows that 25-year-old Jalen Welch walked into the middle of the verbal argument holding a g—n, according to prosecutors news release.
The Oak Park man then removed his CPL from near his waist and shot Mr. Welch one time. Only one shot was fired. The bullet struck Mr. Welch and exited. The bullet then struck Rayshawn Palmer, Prosecutor’s said in a news release. This single shot resulted in the death of two individuals.
Mr. Palmer was an innocent bystander who was not involved in the fight. Evidence indicates that Mr. Palmer was acting as a peacemaker and trying to discourage Welch and the other men from arguing, the news release said.
“Under Michigan law, an individual is allowed to use force, including deadly force, when necessary to protect themselves and in defense of others. The person must honestly and reasonably believe that the use of deadly force was necessary to prevent imminent death or imminent great bodily harm to themselves or others,” prosecutors said in a news release.
“We have reviewed this case thoroughly and this is a case of lawful self-defense. It is absolutely tragic that during all the fun and merrymaking at a Lions tailgate that two lives were lost. The first was Mr. Welch who was the one who first pulled out a g—n and was shot by the 40-year-old, a lawful CPL holder, who was defending himself. A single shot was fired,” Proscutor Kym Worthy said. “And then, perhaps the most heartbreaking of all is the fact that a completely and totally innocent bystander, Mr. Palmer.”
