Self Defense Case Builds Trust in the Justice System

In Ada, Oklahoma, about 9 p.m. on December 31, a few hours before the new year, Jassmone Ashton was minding his own business outside the Sunset Market Valero gas/convenience establishment. Jassmone had very important business to watch: protecting his life. He had filed a protective order against Denavarie Brooks in 2021. Jassmone is 35 years old. Denavarie Brooks was 37 years old. It is not clear what the issues between them were.

According to police, who did a 10 day investigation, and intensely examined surveillance video, Jassmone was pumping gas at the Valero store before the shooting. From the prosecutor, District Attorney Erik Johnson:

"It's obvious by watching the video that Denavarie Brooks came into that gas station. He had passed Jasmonne and witnessed him at the gas pumps and then pulled back around, pulled in aggressively in an aggressive manner, came up, and approached Jasmine from behind," Johnson said.

On January 12, 2023, District Attorney for District 22, Erick Johnson, stated he will not file any charges against Jassmone Samuelle Ashton. From theadanews.com: 

Johnson indicated he believes it was a matter of self-defense and made his determination after spending the past 10 days reviewing all the evidence available, which included watching video footage of the shooting dozens of times.

“I don’t make these decisions in a vacuum,” Johnson said, “ultimately, this is my decision, no one else’s. No one else has this responsibility to make this decision. (However), I have very talented and experienced investigators in my office, I have the benefit of having a professional police department assist me in making this determination, and I’ve got experienced prosecutors who also reviewed all this evidence, and we all came to the same conclusion. So, it was my call and my call alone, but I believe it was the right call.”

In Oklahoma, as in many states, a person who is legally in a public place, is not required to flee from an attacker. However, in this case the prosecutor believed Ashton did not really have a choice, because of the speed of Brooks approach. 

The prosecutor stated, during the investigation, they discovered other people who had been threatened by, and had altercations will, Denavarie Brooks. There was a history of Brooks having violent altercations with Jassmone Ashton as well, which was the reason for the restraining order in 2021. 

At the gun violence archive, the categorization of the shooting has not been changed as of this writing.  From  the gunviolencearchive.org:  the shooting is listed as "Shot - Dead (Murder, accidental, suicide). There does not appear to be a "justified" block in this incident.

Opinion: 

The "woke" narrative is a black man, who defends themself with a firearm, will be either immediately executed by police, or locked up without any serious investigation.

This case shows  an intensive investigation, due dilligence, and a decision by the prosecutor not to charge the man who defended himself. 

Oklahoma is a "constitutional carry" state, where no permit is required to carry a firearm, openly or concealed. The firearm was in the victim's vehicle. The surveillance video showed the whole incident.

How many people have been sent to prison, simply because the laws in their state infringed on the rights protected by  the Second Amendment, to keep and bear arms for their defense? 

Treating self defense cases with respect for the law and the facts builds trust in the justice system.

©2023 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch