Posted on 02/29/2012 9:24:53 AM PST by marktwain
CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
A Charlotte motel manager told Eyewitness News he acted in self-defense when he shot a man outside his motel Sunday morning.
Police are still investigating what happened, but the manager said he was afraid for his life after being assaulted by two people trying to break into the lobby.
Manager Ricki Patel didn't want Eyewitness News to record the surveillance video because police haven't yet returned to pick up a copy. But he agreed to show the video to reporter Jeff Smith. It showed two men pushing and shoving Patel, even after he took out his gun.
"He just kept attacking me,” Patel said. “I just felt fear for my life, like I had no choice.”
Patel said he was sleeping in a motel room Sunday morning because he was the on-call manager.
He heard a loud commotion, and then saw someone trying to force his way into the locked front lobby door.
Patel went downstairs through the outside patio and said he was assaulted by two men.
"They're just pushing me back and start punching me, and one guy tried to grab my gun," he said.
Patel said the men appeared intoxicated. He said one of the men punched him and ripped off his eyeglasses.
"They could have grabbed my gun, they could have shot me," he said. "I mean, I'm still in shock over what happened. It's the first time I shot somebody.”
He fired one time, and hit his attacker in the shoulder.
Patel called 911 and spoke to detectives at the scene. He expects police to return Monday morning to get the surveillance video.
He said police told him the men will be charged with assault, breaking and entering, and communicating threats.
Eyewitness News asked police on Sunday for the names of the men they arrested, but they did not respond.
Don’t bring grabby, slapping hands to a gun fight.
"Patel called 911 and spoke to detectives at the scene. He expects police to return Monday morning to get the surveillance video."
Huh? Shouldn't those detectives have taken that little piece of evidence with them when they were investigating the crime scene the first time?
Your Honor, I move that the court dismiss the surveillance video as evidence. The integrity of said video has been severely diminished due to an improper chain of custody which has allowed for possible tampering of said evidence by an overzealous media and an inept State Crime Lab intent on disregarding my client's right to a fair trial.
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