Fatal shooting after struggle for gun
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – In Grand Rapids, an armed robbery is dead after his intended victim wrestled a gun away in the middle of a struggle.
The shooting happened on the southeast side of Grand Rapids just off 33rd Street near Eastern and 36th.
The shooter is Billy Wayne Welch, his family tells Newschannel 3 that he was held hostage for a time, and then two robbers wanted to take his money at his house.
Police say Welch shot one of the men and the robbers bolted. One went next door to get help, but collapsed and died there.
On Tuesday, Welch's family told Newschannel 3 that they are more sad than angry about the death.
“I don't think he deserved to die,” said Ernestine Jones, the shooter's mother, “I don't think that boy had that coming, I mean he put himself in harm's way by trying to take from other people, but I don't think he had that coming.”
Officers were able to track down and arrest the second suspect involved.
Prosecutors are now going to take a close look at Welch's action to see if the shooting was in fact justified.
