A McMinnville woman, Desiree Mears, will not be charged after she shot and killed a man on Monday.
Warren County District Attorney Chris Stanford said just before noon, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and McMinnville City Police Department responded to a shooting on Grandview Avenue in McMinnville.
Law enforcement determined that Maurice Malone, 38, had been shot in the chest and died due to the gunshot wound. Through further investigation, law enforcement said that Mears had an honest and reasonable belief that Malone’s then-occurring and previous actions, threats, and behaviors posed an imminent threat to her and her minor children.
The shooting death of Malone was deemed justified as self-defense and defense to third parties, according to the DA.
Stanford said, “I also want to commend Ms. Mears for her bravery as she acted under extreme pressure yet decided to protect herself and her children from the imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death that she was imminently facing. It is never easy for victims of violence to stand up to those that are trying to hurt and kill them. However, Ms. Mears’ bravery on Monday likely saved her life and the lives of her children, and she is commended for her courage.”
Lastly, the DA asks the public to respect the victims’ privacy during this difficult time, “It is never easy to take a life, even in the instance of a justified killing, such as this one.”
Photo: Warren County District Attorney Chris Stanford
