It's not self defense if you have to chase the attacker, who is a 65 year old handyman and military vet. At the beginning from what was reported, the 19 yo was the aggressor, meaning he started the altercation as the man was leaving.
The deceased was unarmed, yet he was beaten in the head with a "large wooden club" knocking him down, was hit him two more times in the head as he lay on the ground, but the victim then goes inside again where he is stabbed to death with a large butcher knife.
When the victim got up, he chased the attacker into the house in an act of retaliation IMO.
That's when the 19 yo stabbed him and called it self defense.
In most states that have a stand your ground law or castle doctrine, the 65 yo would not have to leave the property where he was hired to do work by the mother. However, when he chased his attacker back inside, the roles reversed. Now he's the one doing the chasing.
Sorry he was stabbed to death, but he should have gotten up and walked back to his place across the street. Instead, he chose to continue the fight.
I question the justification of self defense. Unless the 65 yo was armed inside the residence with a potentially lethal weapon, it was the 19 yo who started the fight using a large wooden club, and he appears to be the one who escalated to using a lethal weapon. There might be a question of "reasonable force" if the state laws go that far.
The arresting Cops' reports stated they would not recommend release. So, at least initially, their impression of the fight lacked justification for using deadly force.
I'm wondering if this is another WA state example of a young black man being treated leniently because the victim is an older white man.
Too bad there were no video cameras recording the actual stabbing. We only have the 19 yo's account and forensic evidence to know what transpired once they went back inside.
My reading comprehension has gotten worse as reporters have become horrible at writing even simple sentences. So, I might not have a perfect grasp on the details of the altercation.
