Proof and convictions

The bloke who shot Proof to try and stop him from shooting Keith Bender in a Detroit nightclub has been sentenced to probation following the incident.

Mario Etheridge was in his rights to try and save Bender by shooting at Proof, but before he killed Proof, he tried to calm things down by firing two warning shots:

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has said Etheridge acted lawfully in defense of Bender when he fired at Proof. But she said Etheridge shot twice at the ceiling in an effort to stop Proof before aiming the gun at him. Those shots were the basis for the charge of illegally firing a weapon.

"No one can calm a violent situation down by introducing a weapon," said Walker, who handled the case. "Today's verdict proves this."

So, it's wrong to shoot away from someone, but perfectly legal to shoot at someone, if you're trying to stop them from shooting someone else. We're not sure if this judgement was based on careful study of legal precedents, or just thrown together at the last minute. Our understanding is that the judgement places greater value on the interior design of nightclubs than on a man's life.

music proof