There is great news today for a Missouri man who courageously intervened in a frightening domestic abuse incident at a Jefferson City shopping center in November.
After interviewing several witnesses and questioning the shooter, authorities determined the deadly response was justified under Missouri statutes.
Good guy with a gun stepped up to protect woman in distress
It was just before 8 p.m. on November 1 when Jefferson City officers responded to a call regarding shots fired outside of a Chili’s restaurant. A confrontation erupted shortly before the gunshots between 27-year-old Erik Spencer and a woman he was reportedly romantically involved with.
Witnesses told investigators that Spencer slapped and punched the woman, knocking her to the ground.
That’s when a good guy with a gun intervened.
Authorities had to rely on eyewitness accounts to exonerate the defender
Two men saw the sorry spectacle while sitting in a car, and one of them retrieved a weapon from the trunk. The Good Samaritan attempted to stop the attack, but a verbal exchange ensued, and then the fatal gunshot.
Investigators believe Spencer reached for his waist while confronting the armed citizen, though he did not have a firearm. That was enough to warrant a threat and a lethal response, according to Jefferson City Police Chief Eric Wilde.
The lawman told reporters that even though Spencer was unarmed, he clearly used his fists and feet as weapons when he attacked his female victim.
The defender attempted to render first aid, and when first responders arrived, he was taken into custody for questioning. He explained that he was trying to rescue the woman in distress and that he felt threatened by the attacker.
Spencer’s family objected to the self-defense designation, and Wilde acknowledged the controversy.
“I think this is one of those incidents that continues to divide communities across our nation,” the police chief declared. “Because there are some people that say that this was an absolute right to come to somebody’s defense and defend them, and then you’ve got other people that say that this is outrageous behavior.”
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