Renisha McBride Autopsy: Potential ‘Stand Your Ground’ Death Ruled A Homicide

Renisha McBride’s autopsy revealed that the 19-year-old young black woman died from a gunshot wound to the face. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, McBride was seeking help after a car accident early in the morning on November 2nd when she was killed by a gunshot wound. On Tuesday, the official autopsy released by the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed that the young woman died from a shotgun blast to the face, though it was not at close range.

Friends and family of Renisha McBride gathered for her funeral on November 8. They were joined by a media circus because the story has drawn so many parallels to the Trayvon Martin case in Sanford, FL from 2012. Among those in attendance were several civil rights leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, and U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, who called for justice and a thorough investigation in the case.

According to authorities, McBride was in a car accident around 1 am. Disoriented and most likely looking for help, she found her way to the doorstep of a home in the Deerborn Heights community, a suburb in Detroit. Knocking on the door, presumably looking for help, she was allegedly shot to death. The shooter, 54, claims he thought someone was trying to break into his home. There has been no information released as to whether or not there was a sign of forced entry. Toxicology reports are still pending.

Many suspected that the man and his lawyer would attempt to use the Michigan law that is very similar to Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Made famous by the Trayvon Martin shooting and George Zimmerman’s defense, “Stand Your Ground” laws give individuals the right to use guns as self defense in situations where a person’s life feels threatened. There is doubt as to whether that defense will be viable in this case, because Renisha McBride died on the front porch.

As more details are released, this case is sure to grow in national attention. The biggest storylines will be whether or not the shooting was racially motivated, and the controversy surrounding the “Stand Your Ground” laws. But for now, Renisha McBride’s death is a tragedy that brings great pain to her family and friends.