Proof Shooter will not face murder charges

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Mario Etheridge, the bouncer who shot and killed rapper Proof in a Detroit nightclub on April 11th, will not face murder charges. The Associated Press reports that Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said Etheridge acted lawfully in defense of another man during the incident, which also left Etheridge's cousin Keith Bender dead. Worthy said, "The evidence clearly shows that Mario Etheridge acted in lawful self-defense of another when he shot DeShaun Holton (Proof). Once the gunshots started, everything happened fairly quickly."

According to initial reports, Proof, who died with a blood-alcohol level of 0.32 percent, allegedly pistol-whipped Bender before shooting the bouncer in the face. The rapper was in turn shot and killed by Bender's cousin Mario Etheridge, who was also working as a bouncer at the nightclub. Etheridge allegedly fired twice in the air before shooting the rapper.

Authorities are still investigating where Etheridge got the gun from and whether or not he was carrying two weapons.

Etheridge is currently charged with carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a firearm in a building. If found guilty of all charges, he could face up to nine years behind bars. He's currently out on $70,000 bail, and he's due back in court on Friday (June 2nd).