Charges dropped in fatal Opry Mills shooting

Jordyn Pair | The Tennessean

Prosecutors dropped the charges against the man accused of a deadly shooting at Opry Mills mall on grounds of self-defense, according to Davidson County court records.

Justin Golson, 22, fatally shot 22-year-old Demarco Churchwell on May 3 at Opry Mills mall over an ongoing feud between the two, according to police. Golson's attorney claimed that because Golson was backing away from the confrontation with his hands raised, Golson was acting in self-defense.

Assistant District Attorney Jenny Charles said she made the decision to drop the charges last week after reviewing Instagram messages and video surveillance that corroborated both the threats against Golson and Golson backing away from Churchwell.

“It’s pretty clear from the evidence,” Charles said in a phone interview. “His actions were justified under the law as self defense.”

Golson's statements had remained consistent throughout the process and were corroborated by witnesses.

“From the beginning he has stated that this was self defense and he was legitimately scared of Mr. Churchwell,” Charles said.

More: One killed in shooting at Nashville's Opry Mills mall; suspect charged with homicide

More: Opry Mills mall shooting suspect jailed without bond, due in court next week

What started the Opry Mill shooting

Golson told Nashville Metro detectives the shooting stemmed from an ongoing feud between Golson and Churchwell that originated on social media. According to testimony from Metro police Det. Jeffery Jobe, Golson had originally arrived unarmed to his job at a mall shoe-shine kiosk, but later returned home to retrieve his weapon a Churchwell's friend approached Golson and threatened him.

The friend, Derrick Tucker, denied in court threatening Golson.

According to testimony, Churchwell aggressively approached Golson shortly after he returned to the mall. Mall video surveillance showed Golson backing away from Churchwell for 20 seconds before the shooting.

Golson was originally charged with criminal homicide.

Adam Tamburin contributed to this report.

Reach Jordyn at jpair@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter @JordynPair.