No charges will be filed against a woman who fatally shot a man in self-defense in the parking lot of a Food Lion supermarket in Raleigh, North Carolina, according to the Wake County District Attorney’s office. District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told ABC11 that video evidence of the incident corroborated the woman’s claim and supported the choice not to prosecute her.
“We were fortunate to have access to various video. Also, there were witnesses in the area that were able to give a pretty clear image as to what happened here,” Freeman said in an interview with the station.
Last Wednesday, shortly after 5 p.m., a shooting took place following what seemed to be a road-rage incident in which Steven McLamb, 49, followed the woman into the parking lot, got out of his car, and tried to get into the nameless woman’s car.
The woman then produced a firearm and shot, striking McLamb, who later passed away from his wounds at a hospital. The attack was instantly stopped by the gunfire.
“Mr. McLamb was the aggressor,” Freeman said.
N.C. Statute 14-51.2, which established the Castle Doctrine in North Carolina law, allows a person to defend themselves in their homes or, in this case, their vehicles, where they have a reasonable assumption of safety, defense attorney Lee Turner said in a separate interview with news station WRAL.
“It’s obvious this individual contributed to what occurred to him that day by his own actions,” Turner said.
On explaining the castle doctrine, Turner said, “Basically saying your home, your automobile, your workplace are considered to be an individual’s castle and you have a right to defend yourself inside those locations.”
According to Raleigh police, the woman who was compelled to protect herself had no criminal record and was carrying the gun legally.
“I think what’s really important here for people to understand is that provision in our law is not an invitation to vigilante justice, but it does allow when someone has a responsible fear for imminent death or bodily injury that you’re allowed to protect yourself,” Freeman said.