Name released of man killed in Jeffersonville tire store shooting
A Jeffersonville man has been charged with murder in the death of his coworker following a shooting Wednesday at Big O Tires.
Bobby Powell, 19, allegedly shot and killed James Winters Jr. during a verbal argument just before 11 a.m. Powell and Winters were both Big O Tires employees.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Powell told investigators Winters was advancing towards him and communicating that he wanted to fight Powell. That's when Powell allegedly brandished a handgun and shot Winters once in the chest.
Winters was rushed to University of Louisville Hospital where he died. Jeffersonville police said Powell was still at the store when officers arrived, and he was taken into custody without incident.
Clark County prosecutor Jeremy Mull said he expects Powell will claim self-defense.
"I can say that there is some evidence of self defense in this case," Mull said.
Mull said he reviewed witness statements, along with video surveillance footage and a social media post made by Powell before the shooting, in determining what the charges should be. That media post allegedly showed Powell holding a gun and referenced causing harm to a coworker.
'This is one of those cases that is a close call, as far as my job as a prosecutor whether to file charges, or what those charges should be," Mull said. "But at the end of the day, there was an unarmed coworker with a disagreement who was shot and killed in the workplace. And based upon all of the information that I have at this time, I don't feel that that shooting was justified under Indiana self-defense laws. Certainly a jury can make that determination."
Mull plans to formally file the charges on Monday. He said although he believes people have the right to defend themselves, it's important the community at large feels safe.
"You simply can't have a situation where every time someone is in an argument that you pull out a weapon and you shoot that person and kill them," Mull said.
Powell is also being charged with possession of marijuana and carrying a handgun without a license without 500 feet of a school.