There’s excellent news for an Ohio man who had his life turned upside down after an altercation led to a fatal shooting in August. A Pickaway County jury decided that murder and assault charges were not appropriate for the individual who defended himself.
Jaison McLean, a 42-year-old Stoutsville resident, reportedly became involved in a heated argument in Circleville with 55-year-old David Raines Jr. It began as a road rage incident that spilled out of the cars and onto the street.
The confrontation quickly became physical.
An apparent act of self-defense quickly resulted in felony charges
That’s when Raines allegedly swung at McLean. This led to the younger man producing a handgun and firing one shot into his attacker’s chest.
First responders rushed Raines, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction employee, to the hospital, where he soon died.
McLean faced not only murder and assault charges but a wrongful death lawsuit from Raines’s four adult children. That litigation was paused while the criminal trial proceeded last week.
Ohio favors law-abiding citizens over violent criminals
The defendant’s attorney leaned heavily on Ohio’s self-defense laws. The Buckeye State places the burden of proof squarely on the prosecution as long as the accused claims self-defense.
Suppose a citizen is lawfully present and not breaking the law, and they have a reasonable belief that they are in danger of serious physical harm or even death. In that case, they may resort to deadly force to defend themselves.
That is why McLean is a free man today. His defense presented sufficient evidence to the jury that the defendant was under attack and reasonably feared for his life and safety.
This incident is only the latest example of the Second Amendment’s incredible power to save lives.
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.