Man Who Can’t Let Argument Go Ends Up With Fatal Gunshot Wound; Sheriff Rules It Self-Defense

Kat Wilcox, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Brevard County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office said Thursday a man who was fatally shot outside a restaurant had attacked the person who shot him.

In a statement, BCSO said the shooting took place early Thursday at a Cocoa Beach restaurant. Sheriff’s deputies responded to Graham’s Beach Grill at 2:18 a.m., where they found 33-year-old Walter Butler of Rockledge suffering from “life-threatening” wounds.

“Butler and another male had a verbal exchange in reference to a previous disagreement,” the sheriff’s office said. “This disagreement escalated into a physical altercation when Butler attacked the male. A single shot was fired during the physical altercation by the male who was attacked.”

Butler went into the restaurant, where he collapsed. Brevard County Fire and Rescue personnel rendered first aid on the scene, but Butler died from his wounds at a local hospital.

“The male who fired the shot, remained at the scene where he met with responding deputies,” the sheriff’s office said. “He was subsequently detained and transported to BCSO Criminal Investigative Services to speak with homicide agents.”

“Based on the initial investigative findings, the male who was confirmed to be the shooter was released and continues to cooperate with agents,” the sheriff’s office continued. “The investigation remains on-going as agents attempt to conduct additional interviews with individuals who were present at the time of the shooting.”

On Sunday, a concealed carry permit holder in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago shot one of two assailants who accosted him, sending the assailant to the hospital in critical condition, NBC Chicago reported. Police said the armed citizen, who had a valid Illinois Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) and concealed carry permit, opened fire after he was attacked.

Police say residents of a home were awakened by banging inside the residence at 4:00 a.m. local time Saturday, WFAA.com, a Texas TV station, reported. Upon investigating, a man in the residence who retrieved a firearm confronted the intruder and fired a shot, wounding the suspect, who faces burglary charges.