NEWARK - The state has dismissed murder charges against Reynoldsburg teen Adrian Kramer after they say two expert witnesses determined Kramer was acting in self-defense when he shot his step-father.

In May 2018, then 17-year-old Kramer was indicted on murder charges in the shooting death of his step-father, Aaron Cusick. Kramer's defense team and his mother, Crystal Cusick, argued the shooting was in self-defense, with Kramer defending himself, his mother and his younger brother.

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On Tuesday afternoon, the Licking County Prosecutor's Office filed a motion to dismiss the case in Licking County Common Pleas Court.

Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Paula Sawyers said the agency was waiting to receive a report from their expert witness, Dr. Bob Stinson, a Columbus-based psychologist. After receiving an emailed summary of the report from Stinson, Sawyers said they moved forward with their motion.

"He's getting us the full report...but essentially he agreed with the defense expert that Adrian was acting in self-defense, suffering from battered child syndrome and therefore, we are not able to prosecute the case," Sawyers told The Advocate.

According to a motion to dismiss which details a statement of facts in the case, between April 2-3, 2018, Kramer fatally shot Cusick outside their Reynoldsburg home during a domestic violence incident which was initiated by Aaron Cusick.

The incident began inside and was physical, the records noted, adding Kramer and his brother suffered injuries. As the altercation continued outside with Crystal and Aaron Cusick, records stated, Kramer's brother "grabbed a gun hidden in the house" and Kramer took that gun, following the couple outside.

According to the report, a neighbor who witnessed a portion of the event, reported Aaron and Crystal Cusick continued to verbally argue outside the home, but when the neighbor looked, the pair had separated. At that time, the neighbor reported Kramer approached Aaron Cusick, shooting and killing him.

Kramer, the record said, reported his step-father lunged at him before he fired the gun and "he had no choice but to do what he did."

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According to the prosecutor's office, Stinson's report didn't differ from the defense's expert, Dr. James Eisenberg.

Stinson reported finding Kramer was exposed to "significant domestic abuse through the mother's multiple violent relationships, including the relationship with Aaron Cusick."

The psychologist also found Kramer was the victim of assaults by his mother's partners, including Aaron Cusick, and that Aaron Cusick was "especially violent when he had been drinking alcohol or using drugs," a belief Kramer, his mother, and brother shared.

On the night of the incident, Stinson said the trio viewed Aaron Cusick as under heavy influence of drugs or alcohol and "potentially lethally dangerous."

In Stinson's report, he said "given the circumstances, Adrian feared for his mother's safety and ultimately, her life. Adrian attempted non-lethal physical intervention prior to using lethal force."

Stinson detailed Kramer's earlier attempts to handle the situation by trying to physically restrain Aaron Cusick, then following his mother outside their home, where the argument continued.

"Based upon the evidence and the State's experts report, the defendant was justified in the use of deadly force due to a justified and substantiated fear for his own and his mother's and brother's safety from serious physical harm or even death," Sawyers concluded in her motion.

Kramer's defense attorney, Kristin Burkett, said they're pleased the state recognized Kramer had acted in self-defense during the incident.

"Two separate experts reviewed the history and cycle of abuse that Adrian was subjected to by Aaron Cusick and other former partners of his mother," Burkett wrote in an email to The Advocate. "Aaron was enraged and abusive immediately prior to being shot and it has always been our position that Adrian acted to protect himself, his mother and his brother from additional harm."

Burkett noted it's unfortunate Kramer spent nearly a year incarcerated before he was vindicated.