As the country begins to move past the media frenzy that
followed the killing (or murder, depending on where you stand) of Trayvon
Martin, a new incident has occurred that seems prime to dominate headlines. Around 1:00 am on November 2, 2013, Renisha
McBride drove her vehicle into a parked car in suburban Detroit. Tests would show that McBride had a blood
alcohol content of 0.218%, well above the legal limit in Michigan. A few hours later, a “bloodied and
disoriented” McBride approached the porch of Dearborn Heights resident Theodore
Wafer. Sources report that McBride began
to knock on Wafer’s door, prompting Wafer to come downstairs with his shotgun. Wafer, standing in his home, discharged his
weapon through a closed screen door, striking and killing the twenty-four year
old McBride. Wafer then called 911 to
report the shooting. Wafer told
investigators that he brought down the shotgun because he believed McBride was
attempting to break into his house (though there were no signs of forced entry).
He also claims that the weapon
accidentally discharged while he was investigating the situation. McBride died shortly after and Wafer has been charged with second degree murder.
