Justified Use of Deadly Force

Case against man charged with killing 2 people outside gas station headed to trial

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AMBRIDGE, Pa. – The case against the man accused in the shooting deaths of two men who he said were part of a group that attacked him at an Ambridge gas station last month will move forward.

Brandon Lee Richardson, 31, was surrounded by supporters Friday during a preliminary hearing.

The judge heard testimony from two Ambridge police officers who told the judge they saw multiple shell casings, blood and a bullet hole in a silver sedan.

The prosecutor played surveillance video for the judge that the defense attorney said showed Richardson being jumped while standing at the back of his car and being beaten, kicked and punched.

Richardson’s attorney, Steve Townsend, said his client fired only after the group of five walked away and two came back and continued the assault. Brandon Everett and Lamar Seymour died in the shooting.

According to Townsend, Richardson didn’t know the people who allegedly jumped him, and everyone involved was at a bar in the evening, but nothing happened there.

Richardson, who Townsend says has stage 4 prostate cancer, was held for trial on all charges.

Pennsylvania Use of Force: Title 18 Pa.C.S.A. Sec. 505

Use of force in self-protection.

(a)  Use of force justifiable for protection of the person.The use of force upon or toward another person is justifiable when the actor believes that such force is immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other person on the present occasion.

(2)  The use of deadly force is not justifiable under this section unless the actor believes that such force is necessary to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat;

There are legal experts like in Law Office of Daniel Deng personal injury lawyers that can help with legal representation of such cases.