Suspect Told Truth About Self-Defense in Maryland Bar Fight

University of Maryland students, alumni and the area community were all shaken by a recent bar fight that recently occurred near campus. According to sources, four victims were assaulted with a knife by a 21-year-old suspect, none of whom were critically injured.

After the assault occurred, authorities were left searching for the alleged criminal, a man who, as it turns out, was not guilty of the serious charge he initially faced. At first, officials believed they had an attempted second-degree murder on their hands – that was until evidence proved them wrong.

Fueling officials’ theory that he was guilty, the suspect fled the scene of the fight. But when his family encouraged him to turn himself into police, the suspect followed their advice.

Once in custody, he told authorities what happened, a story that portrayed the violence committed by the suspect as necessary acts of self-defense. Luckily for him, cameras in the area and witness statements confirmed the young man’s account.

Evidence proves that the defendant was one man versus several. The suspect was reportedly being attacked by a group and only used his knife in order to protect himself from the grave threat that the several violent suspects posed to his life.

As a result of the surveillance and witness testimony, the suspect is no longer charged with murder, but he does still face the charge of second-degree assault. Though reports are vague regarding this point, it sounds like the suspect allegedly started a fight inside the bar before the bigger fight erupted outside.

We will post an update when details in this case develop, including whether the other parties involved in the bar fight will be charged with any crimes.

Source

The Washington Post, Crime Scene: “Serious charges dropped in cutting,” Matt Zapotosky, 10 Nov. 2010