A lawyer for Proof, the Detroit rapper shot and killed this week, disputed claims by police that the musician shot another man first after a fight at a club.
"To indicate that Proof pulled the trigger first is reckless and quite frankly it will be proved to be untrue," attorney David Gorosh said Thursday.
Proof, 32, born Deshaun Holton, was gunned down about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at the C.C.C. nightclub.
Detroit police say Proof -- a member of the group D12 and a close friend and collaborator of megastar Eminem -- got into a fight with another man, Keith Bender Jr., and shot him in the face before another man shot Proof.
Bender, 35, remained in critical condition at St. John Hospital.
On Thursday, police and prosecutors interviewed a man suspected of shooting the rapper. Mario Etheridge, 28, of Detroit was in custody, but authorities said he may not be charged if they believe he shot in self-defense or to protect another.
Police said Etheridge, Bender's cousin, opened fire as Proof stood over Bender and prepared to fire another shot. Proof was shot three times in the head and chest.
Etheridge's attorney, Randall Upshaw, has maintained his client did nothing illegal. Without acknowledging that Etheridge shot anyone, Upshaw told the Free Press on Wednesday that Proof shot first.
Gorosh took issue with those remarks.
"It's disingenuous to speak to the media to try and suggest that Proof shot first. There are ways to determine what shots were fired and by whom," he said. "There's an ongoing investigation."
Gorosh added, "Until all of the factual evidence has been evaluated, an opinion by the Detroit Police Department is premature."
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy asked Thursday that anyone with knowledge about the incident come forward and contact the police homicide section at 313-596-2260.
SOURCE: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006604140364
"To indicate that Proof pulled the trigger first is reckless and quite frankly it will be proved to be untrue," attorney David Gorosh said Thursday.
Proof, 32, born Deshaun Holton, was gunned down about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at the C.C.C. nightclub.
Detroit police say Proof -- a member of the group D12 and a close friend and collaborator of megastar Eminem -- got into a fight with another man, Keith Bender Jr., and shot him in the face before another man shot Proof.
Bender, 35, remained in critical condition at St. John Hospital.
On Thursday, police and prosecutors interviewed a man suspected of shooting the rapper. Mario Etheridge, 28, of Detroit was in custody, but authorities said he may not be charged if they believe he shot in self-defense or to protect another.
Police said Etheridge, Bender's cousin, opened fire as Proof stood over Bender and prepared to fire another shot. Proof was shot three times in the head and chest.
Etheridge's attorney, Randall Upshaw, has maintained his client did nothing illegal. Without acknowledging that Etheridge shot anyone, Upshaw told the Free Press on Wednesday that Proof shot first.
Gorosh took issue with those remarks.
"It's disingenuous to speak to the media to try and suggest that Proof shot first. There are ways to determine what shots were fired and by whom," he said. "There's an ongoing investigation."
Gorosh added, "Until all of the factual evidence has been evaluated, an opinion by the Detroit Police Department is premature."
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy asked Thursday that anyone with knowledge about the incident come forward and contact the police homicide section at 313-596-2260.
SOURCE: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006604140364
