DETROIT (WWJ) - A gas station clerk won't face charges in connection to the shooting death of a 17-year-old over the weekend after prosecutors say he acted in lawful self-defense.
After reviewing the case, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said a warrant was denied as the evidence in the case showed that the 28-year-old store clerk believed his life was in imminent danger and lawfully defended himself when he shot the teen.
The Detroit Police Department said officers responded to a Citgo gas station located at 9126 Dearborn Street on the city's southwest side just after 1 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 25 after receiving reports of shots fired.
When they arrived at the scene, they found 17-year-old Yaqoub Nagi of Detroit laying on the ground behind the door to the front counter of the gas station.
He had been shot multiple times in his upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.
The store clerk, a 28-year-old man, was detained in connection to the investigation.
Detectives determined Nagi walked into the gas station and went behind the clerk's counter where the employee confronted him.
Police said the clerk saw the 17-year-old "holding an object with his hands together pointing as if he had a handgun." The clerk then open fired, shooting off several rounds that fatally wounded Nagi.
The 28-year-old remained at the scene until police arrived, the department added.
As explained by Worthy, an individual who is not engaged in committing a crime may use deadly force against another anywhere he/she has a legal right to be with no duty to retreat under Michigan law. The individual must honestly and reasonably believe that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself, or to another individual.
“Last summer, there were a series of shootings at Detroit gas stations - some of them resulted in a loss of life," Worthy continued. "This case is yet another deadly shooting in a gas station, but the facts are very different. The evidence in this case shows that the actions of the store clerk were in lawful self-defense and as a result this office will not be charging him with any crime."
Since he is not being charged in the case, authorities did not disclose clerk's name was not released.