Judge Oakley dismisses murder charge in Romulus as self-defense

Chief 34th District Court Judge Brian A. Oakley dismissed a murder charge against an Inkster man after determing the shooting was done in self defense.
Christopher Demetrious Peterson, 24, was charged with the second-degree murder of Dante Carey, 49, in Romulus on July 3. Carey was the ex-boyfriend of Peterson’s mother, defense attorney Robert Burton Harris said.
On Sept. 4, the preliminary exam was held and the charge of murder and using a firearm in commission of a felony were dropped by Judge Oakley.
Burton-Harris said in a Detroit News report that Michigan has one of the stronger self-defense laws in the country and if an attorney admits evidence of self-defense, prosecutors have to present evidence to rebut that claim.
“My client, like anybody, is happy to not have the most serious charges hanging over his head, but he is not happy about the situation,” Burton-Harris said. “He’s certainly not happy about having to do what he had to do. He understands and acknowledges someone lost their life. It’s a very unfortunate situation.”
Romulus police were called to a home in the 30100 block of Jamestown Street near Eureka and Middlebelt roads at about 10:15 p.m., July 3, for a report of a shooting, according to prosecutors. Police found Carey with multiple gunshots wounds.
Prosecutors said Carey and Peterson were in an argument that escalated before Peterson shot Carey. Peterson was licensed to carry a gun.
Carey had a “long, lengthy history” of domestic violence against Peterson’s mother, Burton-Harris said, and was on a tether for an unrelated assault with the intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and felonious assault case at the time of his death.
Prosecutors have not yet decided if they are going to appeal Judge Oakley’s dismissal of the case.