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09:29 PM PST on Saturday, November 15, 2003
By TRICIA MANNING-SMITH / KING 5 News
SEATTLE - An aspiring artist has been killed and although the shooter admitted to firing the gun, no one is in jail yet.
King County prosecutors determined that the shooter acted in self-defense but no charges were filed against him.
Now, the mother of the 18-year-old feels victimized again, this time by the justice system.
William Jeffries went to a party in January 2002 with his brother and some friends, where an unlikely argument erupted primarily between two families and quickly escalated into a beer bottle brawl.
According to witnesses, a man was cut in the neck and his cousin went and grabbed a 40-caliber Glock.
“You have to keep in mind to put yourself in the shoes of the individual who has the gun,†said King County Deputy Prosecutor Kathy Van Olst. “He doesn't have it pulled. He's at the front yard of the home, he's tending to his cousin who has blood spurting out of his neck from a neck wound …and suddenly out the door burst the very individuals who harmed him as well as his cousin.â€
He admittedly shot William Jeffries three times.
In an interview later with police, the shooter said he "thought" Jeffries was coming at him with a weapon.
King County prosecutors determined they could not prove that the shooter did not act in self-defense. They filed no charges.
Nearly two years later, Michelle Jeffries’ grief fuels her passion to bring the shooter to court.
She insists he was murdered and has started a petition drive, trying to force prosecutors to bring charges against the admitted shooter.
William Jeffries worked two jobs, including one as a video game tester at Microsoft. He was attending college and wanted to be a computer animator.
By TRICIA MANNING-SMITH / KING 5 News
SEATTLE - An aspiring artist has been killed and although the shooter admitted to firing the gun, no one is in jail yet.
King County prosecutors determined that the shooter acted in self-defense but no charges were filed against him.
Now, the mother of the 18-year-old feels victimized again, this time by the justice system.
William Jeffries went to a party in January 2002 with his brother and some friends, where an unlikely argument erupted primarily between two families and quickly escalated into a beer bottle brawl.
According to witnesses, a man was cut in the neck and his cousin went and grabbed a 40-caliber Glock.
“You have to keep in mind to put yourself in the shoes of the individual who has the gun,†said King County Deputy Prosecutor Kathy Van Olst. “He doesn't have it pulled. He's at the front yard of the home, he's tending to his cousin who has blood spurting out of his neck from a neck wound …and suddenly out the door burst the very individuals who harmed him as well as his cousin.â€
He admittedly shot William Jeffries three times.
In an interview later with police, the shooter said he "thought" Jeffries was coming at him with a weapon.
King County prosecutors determined they could not prove that the shooter did not act in self-defense. They filed no charges.
Nearly two years later, Michelle Jeffries’ grief fuels her passion to bring the shooter to court.
She insists he was murdered and has started a petition drive, trying to force prosecutors to bring charges against the admitted shooter.
William Jeffries worked two jobs, including one as a video game tester at Microsoft. He was attending college and wanted to be a computer animator.