A Bystander at a ‘No Kings’ March Was Killed. Did the Shooter Commit a Crime?

Summary

A gunman fired into a crowd at a 'No Kings' protest, killing an innocent bystander, but the legal question of whether he committed a crime is tangled. The shooter believed he was acting in self-defense or defense of others, a claim that has created a complex criminal case. The incident raises thorny questions about when force is legally justified at political gatherings, and exposes the gap between intention and consequence in the eyes of the law. Prosecutors face an uphill battle proving criminal intent when the defendant claims he was protecting people. The case hinges on what the shooter believed he was responding to, and whether that belief was reasonable enough to shield him from charges.