Did Time In Fallujah Cause Marine Vet To Kill Neighbor Over Dog Dispute?

DETROIT (WWJ) Defense attorney Todd Flood seems to be implicating post traumatic stress disorder for an incident that has Marine vet Jacob Simkins, 28, facing murder charges after allegedly shooting a neighbor over a dispute over his dog.

"He was a Marine, he did his tour in 2005-2008; he was in battle, he was actually boots on the ground in Fallujah," Flood said, adding, "If you're anywhere near bombing, death, shooting, there's going to be some sense, some smell, some sound that's going to cause you to go back into that battle."

What exactly will be his defense when his preliminary examination begins Monday afternoon?

"Unfortunately, I'm not able to get into the particulars," Flood said, adding that a focus will also be on the victim's character.

"It's surprising that he's not in the Michigan Department of Corrections himself," Flood said of the victim. "Many people have already commented in the blogs on his criminal history."

Simkins, of Walled Lake, was arraigned last week on a charge of open murder and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the death of Edwin Criswell, 45.

According to testimony in Novi District Court, Simkins had been looking for his dog last Wednesday in the 1100 block of Sigma near Maple and Pontiac Trail in Walled Lake when he was confronted by Criswell, who was upset that the dog was in his yard. An argument broke out, and — armed with a loaded handgun — Simkins allegedly punched his neighbor and then shot him.

Criswell was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Walled Lake Police Chief Paul Shakinas told WWJ's Mike Campbell at the scene that neighbors have complained about the man's dogs in the past. "We have had contact with the suspect recently, I can say that," Shakinas said, declining to elaborate.

Simkins stood mute to the charges.

No bond was set and a plea of not guilty was entered.