If anyone has any doubts that their defensive actions will be questioned by law enforcement and the district attorney’s office depending on the jurisdiction they live in, look no further than the city of Baltimore. There, a security guard was charged and aggressively prosecuted for a double homicide that took place after he shot and killed two of three men who had entered the auto repair shop where he worked and shot one of his co-workers. 

Here’s the story:

On Oct. 29, a Baltimore jury acquitted 21-year-old Darius Daye of all charges in a double homicide case before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy the Baltimore Witness reports. Daye, who had been working as a security guard, faced serious charges, including first-degree murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime, for an incident that took place earlier this year on Jan. 4.

The incident occurred on the 5200 block of Fairlawn Avenue, where Daye was stationed as a security guard at an auto repair shop. The area has been plagued by recent violent including multiple shootings, one that occurred just months before this incident and another triple slaying that happened just weeks later, followed by another slaying at an auto repair shop. According to the defense’s account, a violent altercation broke out when three men entered the shop and, without warning, shot one of Daye’s co-workers. Fearing for his life and the safety of those around him, Daye drew his weapon and opened fire on the intruders, ultimately resulting in their deaths.

Daye’s attorney, Chris Purpura, argued that his client acted in self-defense, asserting that Daye responded reasonably and lawfully to a deadly threat. Purpura emphasized that the law provides for the use of force when an individual faces immediate danger. Daye, the defense argued, had no choice but to take swift action to neutralize a life-threatening situation and prevent further harm to himself and others in the shop.

After a lengthy deliberation, the jury agreed with Purpura’s argument, returning a not guilty verdict on all charges. Although the jury ultimately ruled in Daye’s favor, the case highlights the concern citizens must exercise in defending their lives and the lives of others in a state like Maryland and a big-city jurisdiction such as Baltimore that seeks to paint all actions that result in the loss of life as equal. To go after a security guard doing his job against clearly violent attackers is insidious on the part of the city’s legal system. For a gun owner, whether they be a private citizen, a security professional or even a sworn police officer, to not have legal protection from U.S. LawShield or a similar company is a huge risk.

For many in Baltimore, the verdict reaffirms the right to self-defense, while also serving as a reminder of the intense scrutiny such cases can undergo. For Daye, it was a long-awaited moment of relief, vindicating his actions that night and allowing him to put this chapter behind him and fortunately, move on with his life.