KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — He shot and killed a man who charged at him in a drunken rage after hearing the screams of a woman.
He’s no hero, but Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting says he is not a murderer either.
In October, Brandon Groetsema of Oshtemo was in bed when heard a ruckus next door at Woodland Estates Mobile Home Park and a woman screaming.
He called 911 twice to summon help. Then he grabbed a gun and went outside to investigate. There he was apparently confronted by an inebriated Bryan Bigham, who had just had a fight with his girlfriend.
Groetsema says Bigham charged him, so he shot him, fearing for his own life.
Getting said it was self-defense, as defined by Michigan law. He said, while Groetsema should have let police handle it, he had no intent to harm anyone.
Getting even said, if he took the case to trial, Groetsema would be found not guilty.
No charges were filed, so Groetsema has not been in custody.
– John McNeill
