DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – Theodore Wafer, 54, has been charged with the murder of Renisha McBride.
The criminal charges Wafer faces include:
- Murder in second degree
- Manslaughter
- Posession of a firearm during a felony
He could be arraigned as early as Friday afternoon.
McBride was shot in the face Nov. 2 on the front porch of Wafer's Dearborn Heights home. Wafer told police he thought someone was trying to break into his home and he accidentally discharged his shotgun.
Police say they believe McBride was involved in a car accident several blocks north in Detroit before the shooting. Her family believes she likely went to the home seeking help.
Wafer called 911 after he shot McBride and police were there within two minutes.
More: 911 calls reveal timeline in Renisha McBride shooting
"If he had called 911 when he heard her outside his house, they would have been there within two minutes and she would be alive today," said Gerald Thurswell, the McBride family's attorney. "Maybe she would have been arrested for being intoxicated, but she would not be dead."
An autopsy released this week ruled she died of a gunshot wound to her face. A toxicology report shows she had a blood alcohol content of .22 at the time of her death.
Under a 2006 Michigan self-defense law, a homeowner has the right to use force during a break-in. Otherwise, a person must show that his or her life was in danger.
Thurswell is planning a 3 p.m. news conference on Friday to address the criminal charges against Wafer.
---Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced charges against Theodore Wafer Friday morning