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Elderly Detroit Man Won't Face Charges In Shooting

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Willie Joe White, 75 of Detroit, was firmly within his rights when he shot an intruder in his Winthrop Street home, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, which ruled Friday White will not face charges.

"Although every death is a tragic occurrence, in this case Mr. White discovered an armed intruder had forced his way into his home in the middle of the night. He had the right to use deadly force to defend himself under these facts because he had an honest and reasonable belief that he was in danger of imminent death or great bodily harm at the time,"  Prosecutor Kym Worthy said.

White called 911 after he shot the intruder, Bronco Mosley, 18, of Detroit. The teen had forced open the side door of the home and entered it armed with a handgun. When White heard the stranger in his house, he armed himself with a weapon and fatally shot Mosley one time near side door of the home.

The Detroit Police Department presented a warrant request, which was reviewed by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. The warrant was denied because, the prosecutor said, "there was insufficient evidence to charge White with a crime because he acted in lawful self- defense."

Immediately after the shooting, White told WWJ Newsradio 950′s Marie Osborne he feared for his life, and had no other choice but to fire. His wife was asleep upstairs.

"After three or four kicks, he was into the kitchen and coming up the stairs, so I just shot more or less at the area. I saw him, but I shot at that area and I was aiming for his body. After I saw him, when saw his head, I knew he was coming around, you know," White said.

"He made himself available for me to shoot, and as much as he came into the house. And I felt threatened and I shot him," White added.

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