A Raleigh neighbor who stepped in with a legally owned handgun to stop a dynamic axe attack will not face criminal charges, local officials confirmed Tuesday.
The incident unfolded near Summit Avenue, where police say an argument broke out within a nearby wooded homeless encampment. According to a Raleigh Police Department release, the dispute involved 39-year-old Emmanuel Graham and another man who were in a domestic relationship. Authorities stated that the argument quickly escalated into a physical confrontation.
During the fight, Graham struck the other man with an axe. As the injured victim fled out of the woods and into a residential neighborhood, Graham pursued him with the weapon.
A local resident witnessed the chase. Recognizing the immediate danger, the homeowner retrieved a handgun, intervened in the encounter, and fired a single shot that struck Graham in the upper body.
Emergency responders transported Graham to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The other man involved in the initial dispute survived the axe attack but required medical treatment for serious injuries.
Following a review of the encounter, the Wake County District Attorney’s Office announced it would not file charges against the resident who fired the weapon, ruling the shooting a justifiable use of force to protect a third party from deadly assault.
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