According to prosecutors, the man who was accused of shooting a gun and killing two people at a Detroit Lions tailgate last Sunday afternoon, will not be charged with a crime, per TMZ.
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New footage has surfaced from the shooting yesterday at the Detroit Lions Tailgate https://t.co/34s6F2BTJN pic.twitter.com/i93yqvyIuT
— Kam (@NoAuraKam) September 16, 2024
X/@_MLFootball
This shooting took place in Eastern Market, which is down the street from Ford Field, where the Tampa Buccaneers had just won 20-16 at Ford Field.
That is to say, it was ultimately ruled by the judge that the 40-year-old suspect was acting in self-defense amid the alteration that led to 25-year-old Jalen Welch being shot and killed.
Wayne County Prosecutor, Kym Worthy, noted that after looking into the case it was revealed that Welch appeared to be the aggressor.
"We have reviewed this case thoroughly, and this is a case of lawful self-defense," Worthy said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. "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 gun and was shot by the 40-year-old, a lawful CPL holder, who was defending himself. A single shot was fired."
In view of the incident, there was another bystander who was also struck by the gunfire and died at a hospital afterwards.
#BREAKING: A second victim has succumbed to injuries sustained in a shooting at a Lions tailgate near Ford Field in Detroit Sunday.
The victims have been identified as Rayshawn Palmer, pictured, and Jalen Welch. pic.twitter.com/eZSHLKDnbA
— Jeff Vaughn (@JeffVaughn) September 17, 2024
"And then, perhaps the most heartbreaking of all is the fact that a completely and totally innocent bystander, Mr. [Rayshawn] Palmer, was shot and killed with the same bullet that passed through the head of Mr. Welch," Worthy said. "It could have been any one of us. We looked at all the applicable laws, and there is no crime that can be charged or proven beyond a reasonable doubt."
Jalen Welch and Rayshawn Bryant Obituary and Death: Jalen Welch and Rayshawn Bryant – Tragically Lost in Detroit Eastern Market Shooting Incident; Two Men Succumb to Fatal Injuries Following Post-Detroit Lions Game Tailgate Party, with Suspect Apprehended https://t.co/5L0i2lAsdb pic.twitter.com/myiW7yRskR
— Liblens (@liblens27188) September 16, 2024
Market officials put out a statement which said that the next home game (September 30 vs. Seattle Seahawks) will not include tailgating activities, citing the reason is out of respect for the victims and their families.
"Following the pause on September 30th, we intend to resume the tailgating tradition for the remainder of the season after enacting additional and significant security protocols that will be communicated to the public in advance."
HC Dan Campbell called the Eastern Market shooting where 2 victims were killed while tailgating for the #Lions game “tragic.” Campbell said “whoever that is has a family and I’m thinking about them and prayers go out to them, their family, their friends and it’s unfortunate…” pic.twitter.com/daxPw15NSj
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) September 16, 2024
