Detroit Free Press staff

A 25-year-old man accused in the shooting death of a Dearborn man at an Inkster gas station will not face charges because he acted in self-defense, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

The shooting happened at about 3 p.m. Saturday at the Marathon gas station on Michigan Avenue, east of Middlebelt. Ali Salman, 34, also known as Ali Al Tameemi, died of a gunshot wound to the head following an argument over a parking space.

According to a news release from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, an investigation found that the 25-year-old man was the initial aggressor because he punched Salman, but didn't knock him down. The man then backed off.

However, the release said, “Mr. Salman had his gun drawn when he chased and pointed his weapon at the 25-year-old and confronted him. It was only after the gun was pointed at him that the younger man pulled out his weapon and fired shots at Mr. Salman. This is confirmed by video evidence."

The release said media reports stating that the victim dropped his gun on the ground and the attacker picked it up are wrong.

The 25-year-old man remained on the scene until the police arrived and surrendered his handgun.

“The 25-year-old had the right to use deadly force to defend himself because he had a reasonable belief that imminent death or great bodily harm would occur. For this reason the warrant has been denied,” the release said.

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