The New Year’s Day gunfire outside a Garden City bar has moved from the parking lot to the courtroom, where a Livonia man now insists he pulled the trigger to save his own life. Brian Jaron Lindsay told a judge Monday that he acted in self-defense as he faced a preliminary examination packed with hours of testimony and surveillance video. The case centers on a late-night confrontation that left a father unconscious and his son recovering from serious injuries.
According to FOX 2 Detroit, roughly six witnesses took the stand while a detective walked the court through surveillance footage that prosecutors say shows Lindsay stepping out of his vehicle with what appeared to be a handgun. Prosecutors and defense attorneys painted very different pictures of how the trouble started. Lindsay’s side claims he was yanked from his Jeep and forced into a fight for his life, while prosecutors say the video tells another story. The judge held off on immediately deciding whether to send the case to trial, opting instead to review the testimony and video evidence more closely.
Police said officers were called around 4:15 a.m. on Jan. 1 to the parking lot of Rockstarz Bar on Ford Road, where two Livonia men were found with gunshot wounds, CBS Detroit reported. In court, the victims were identified as 55-year-old Dennis Kewin and his 22-year-old son, Brendan. Both were hospitalized after the shooting. Brendan has since been released, while his father remains unconscious. Earlier coverage by Hoodline noted that Rockstarz management said it was cooperating with investigators as the case unfolded.
Lindsay faces multiple felony counts, including two counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, two counts of felonious assault and six counts of felony-firearm, and he was arraigned Jan. 4 in the 36th District Court. The court ordered him held on a $1 million bond, according to ClickOnDetroit. Prosecutors say Lindsay left the scene after the shooting, then later turned himself in. His attorney, Ted Wallace, has maintained that Lindsay is asserting self-defense.
Witnesses, Parking Lot Clash and the Video
The preliminary exam brought an assortment of voices into the courtroom, including bar patrons, Garden City police officers and Lindsay’s partner, who all helped piece together the moments before and after the shots were fired, WWJ Newsradio reported. The defense argued the confrontation started over a parking spot and spiraled after the older man allegedly pulled Lindsay from his vehicle. Several witnesses testified that they saw Lindsay choking the older victim, and then heard three shots. On the stand, Brendan Kewin said his memory of the scuffle is hazy beyond realizing he had been shot, and he testified that he is dealing with ongoing nerve damage and has additional surgeries ahead.
Self-Defense Law, High Bond and What Is at Stake
Under Michigan’s Self-Defense Act, a person may use deadly force in certain situations when they "honestly and reasonably" believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, a standard outlined in state court documents and case law opinions (Michigan Courts). Prosecutors carry the burden of disproving that claim if they want the case to move forward to trial. The judge said he would keep Lindsay’s $1 million bond in place, noting that the case could turn into a murder trial if Dennis Kewin does not survive, FOX 2 Detroit reported.
The preliminary examination is set to continue as both sides wait for the judge to finish reviewing the testimony and video evidence. Rockstarz’s website lists the bar at 33729 Ford Road, and early reports said management intended to cooperate with investigators while the case works its way through the courts.
