From Pasagoula’s Mississippi Press of April 5, 2007
St. Martin shooting death ruled self defenseShooting someone who is fleeing in the back may not yield a self-defense decision in many states
No charges have been filed against a 17-year-old male involved in the shooting death Tuesday night of 20-year-old Michael Pittman, who lived at 15608 Belmont Drive in St. Martin.
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said that Deputy Eddie Rudolph and Lt. Billy Bryant arrived about 10:48 p.m. in the parking lot of the Chevron at Miss. 609 and Big Ridge Road where they found Pittman deceased in a car.
An unidentified female had driven Pittman to the store looking for help after Pittman had been shot twice -- once in the hand and another time in the lung area while he was at the 4512 Fort Bayou Road home of Michael and Loren Gladney, Byrd said.
According to Pittman's brother, whose name was not released, they went to the house so Michael Pittman could confront several people who allegedly accused him of stealing a cell phone, Byrd said.
The brother, Byrd added, confirmed witnesses' reports that Michael Pittman exited their vehicle armed with a gun and threatened to shoot those in the area.
Investigators believe the incident could have been drug-related, Byrd said.
The ruling Wednesday was that the 17-year-old, who was also not identified, had shot in self-defense, striking Michael Pittman in the back as he was fleeing the scene, Byrd said.
After conferring with the district attorney's office, Byrd said no charges would likely be filed because the incident follows statutes related to self-defense claims.
"We are going to present it to a grand jury and let them make the final decision," Byrd said.
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