Nathan Solis, and Sean J Longoria

Redding

Redding police continued to investigate Thursday the shooting death of a man a day earlier that so far appears to be a self-defense case, detectives said.

But whether the shooter will be cleared is a decision officers won’t make.

“We’re going to treat it like any other homicide investigation,” Redding police investigator Michael DiMatteo said. “It will be handed to the (District Attorney’s) Office for review.”

Initial dispatch calls at 9:13 p.m. Wednesday said the shooting was possibly related to road rage, though DiMatteo said that wasn’t the case. Michael Lake, 27, stopped at a red light when the man approached his vehicle while riding a bicycle.

It’s unknown why the two began fighting but the altercation ended with Lake shooting and killing the man, police said.

When they arrived, officers found a green car at the intersection with a broken window.

Authorities covered a nearby body with a tarp and a coroner arrived at 10:20 p.m.

Lake has a concealed weapons permit and provided police with a statement before they allowed him to leave, officers said.

Redding defense attorney John Kucera said on Thursday he's representing Lake and spoke on his behalf.

“Considering the fact he was never handcuffed, frisked or anything else, it’s pretty clear this was a self-defense issue," Kucera said. "And he’s taking it pretty hard.”

Police aren't naming the man killed because the Shasta County Coroner's Office was still working to confirm his identity and notify his family, officers said.

Investigators are still looking into the shooting and ask anyone with information to call 225-4200.

Ted Lidie, founder and senior instructor for Redding-based Northern Firearms Instruction, didn't know the specifics of Wednesday night's shooting but said shootings by concealed weapon permit holders are rare.

"Generally CCW holders make good decisions with their firearms and with their lives," said Lidie. “They don’t get in trouble because generally speaking, they’re your best and brightest and most responsible gun owners.”

State jury instructions allow for lethal force in the defense against being killed, raped, robbed or maimed, according to the Judicial Council of California's annual publication of such instructions.

“If you are accusing somebody of committing one of those crimes against you, you are also putting them on notice that you have an argument to use force up to and including lethal," Lidie said.

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