A Colorado man who confronted two first-degree homicide fees for taking pictures and killing two aggressors throughout a road-rage incident has lastly had all fees dropped in opposition to him.
In June 2023, Stephan Lengthy was driving on Interstate 25 in Denver when two males—brothers Blake and Damon Lucas—pulled up beside subsequent to him on the freeway, yelled at him after which swerved in entrance of his automobile and got here to a cease. One of many brothers, Blake, then jumped out of the passenger aspect of the car he was touring in and attacked Lengthy by means of his open window. At that time, Lengthy grabbed a handgun he had in his automobile and shot him in self-defense. His brother Damon exited the driving force’s aspect of his car and grabbed onto the driving force’s aspect of Lengthy’s automobile as he was making an attempt to get away, at which level Lengthy shot him as effectively. Lengthy then fled the scene and didn’t name 911, mitigating elements that doubtless led to the preliminary fees. Complicating the difficulty, Lengthy is black and the Lucas brothers had been white.
Following the incident, Lengthy was instantly arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree homicide, one in all which was dropped not lengthy afterward. He spent months in jail earlier than lastly being launched on bond.
On Aug. 21—14 months after the taking pictures—the Denver district legal professional lastly dropped the remaining homicide cost in opposition to Lengthy, ending an extended nightmare that turned his life the wrong way up.
“After a cautious and complete assessment of all of the proof within the case—which included quite a few consultations with members of my workplace—and after making use of Colorado legislation to the proof, I’ve concluded that we couldn’t show Mr. Lengthy’s guilt to a jury past an affordable doubt,” Denver DA Beth McCann stated in a launched assertion. “The proof establishes a powerful and legitimate self-defense declare pursuant to Colorado legislation. In consequence, we are going to ask the court docket to dismiss the remaining fees in opposition to Mr. Lengthy. This was a particularly troublesome and heart-wrenching resolution however, finally, for my part, the right one.”
Following the choice, the Denver Justice Undertaking, which had been advocating for fees to be dropped, voiced assist for the choice.
“This dismissal represents the justice Stephan deserved from the very starting,” the group stated in a launched assertion. “Sadly, the delayed injustice he has endured all through his felony proceedings has dropped at gentle important systemic inadequacies and racial disparities within the utility of self-defense legal guidelines, notably when Black males are compelled to defend themselves in opposition to white aggressors.”
The group additionally stated it was hopeful the Lengthy case may change the best way some legislation enforcement points are dealt with sooner or later.
“It’s our hope that this dismissal not solely rectifies the wrongs finished to Stephan but in addition serves as a vital step towards addressing these broader points,” the group stated. “We imagine this case might set an vital precedent within the authorized system, paving the best way for fairer and extra equitable therapy for all.”
For his half, Lengthy was thrilled to have the fees dropped and the cloud faraway from overhead.
“At first, I wish to give all glory to our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ,” Lengthy stated upon the dismissal of the fees. “With out him, nothing would have been doable.”
