Renisha McBride Update: Michigan Man Charged With Second-Degree Murder

A Michigan man who claimed he was acting in self-defense when he shot 19-year-old Renisha McBride was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, CNN reported.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy made the announcement on Friday, following the storm of controversy that immediately surrounded the case that left many unanswered questions.

According to lawyers for McBride's family, the young woman was looking for help after getting in a car accident on Nov. 2 in Dearborn Heights, a suburb of Detroit.

Police originally claimed the 54-year-old man's gun accidentally discharged, leaving out any possibility of criminal intent.

Additionally, a report from the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office released on Thursday said McBride's alcohol level was at 0.218 percent, while the legal limit to drive is 0.08 percent.

The report also said she had marijuana in her system.

However, an attorney representing McBride's family, Gerald Thurswell, said the autopsy details are not important to the case.

"I don't think the fact that she was intoxicated changes anything," Thurswell said. "Her being intoxicated on the toxicology report would make her less of a threat than more of a threat. The bottom line is, he should've called 911 when he heard a disturbance, and we know for a fact that the police would've been there in two minutes. Instead, he did the reverse. He took his shotgun, went on the porch, and blew her head off and then called 911."

The homeowner's lawyer, Mark Carpenter, said he would not comment on the reports until after the prosecutor's announcement on Friday.

Still, there are mysteries surrounding McBride's death. While she got in the car accident at 1:30 a.m., she was not shot until 3:40 a.m. -- leaving two hours unaccounted for.

When McBride arrived at his house, the homeowner said he thought someone was trying to break in.

Real Time Analytics