Attorneys for a man accused of fatally shooting one person and wounding two others in a Virginia shopping center parking lot said he acted in self-defense.
Steven A. Green, 51, was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, in May and charged with the murder of 30-year-old Miguel Leiva Hernandez, who died after Green allegedly fired off a gun amid a parking lot scuffle that turned violent.
At a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Hernandez' girlfriend said they were at a restaurant in Chantilly and Green, a street sweeper, assaulted her in the restaurant parking lot.
Multiple witnesses testified Hernandez and another man then went after Green in the parking lot.
Green shot Hernandez during a fight, witnesses said.
They also said there was a second gun that Hernandez’ friend was pointing at Green.
Green’s attorneys said that's why Green shot Hernandez in self-defense.
Responding officers found Leiva Hernandez suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead, police said.
Green allegedly drove away to find help but returned to the parking lot and admitted to police he was the shooter, police said. Green cooperated with detectives and a gun was found at the scene.
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A woman and a man were also hurt, but not by gunfire. Their injuries were not life-threatening, police said.
Prosecutors anticipate the murder trial will start in January or February.
