Defendant Says Shooting Justified in Fight W/ Judges

Indianapolis, Indiana – During a bizarre fight with three court judges, a man said he feared for his life and was forced to use a firearm to defend himself.

Brandon Kaiser is in court defending himself against felony charges stemming from an altercation turned brawl outside a White Castle fast food restaurant on 1 May last year.

According to court officials, Clark County Judges Bradley Jacobs and Andrew Adams were with another Judge, Sabrina Bell. Something was shouted at the trio of judges by Kaiser and another man, Alfredo Vazquez. Judge Bell responded by flipping them off with her middle finger.

More words were exchanged between the 2 groups, then Kaiser and Vazquez attempted to enter the fast food joint when Jacobs and Adams, “approached him in a hostile manner,” according to Kaiser’s legal defense team.

Kaiser was repeatedly dropped onto the concrete as the pair of judges attacked him, while Bell tried to stop the fight.

Kaiser’s claim that he was also choked, then kicked in the head by Adams while Jacobs held him down, were confirmed by surveillance video footage which captured the brawl.

The defense team for Kaiser says he received severe injuries to his face and body from the attack.

WGN 9 reports the defendant’s attorney, Mario Massillamany of Massillamany Jeter & Carson LLP, said his client was legally allowed to patronize the restaurant, and “did not provoke, instigate or participate willingly in the violence of his assault, and did not make physical contact with his attackers until it was necessary in order to protect himself.”

Defense attorneys also claim he pulled a gun and shot both Jacobs and Adams and, “used reasonable force to protect himself because he was attacked by two men with military training.”

But, according to the probable cause affidavit, Kaiser’s actions possibly went beyond that of reasonable self-defense.

He pulled a pistol from his waistband and fired into Adams stomach,

“Jacobs is then seen pushing upright against (Vazquez),” the affidavit states. “(Vazquez) was holding on to Jacobs when (Kaiser) walked up to Jacobs and shot him in the chest. Jacobs then fell to the ground onto his back and, while (Vazquez) held him down, (Kaiser) placed the barrel to Jacobs’ center chest and shot him a second time.”

41-year-old Kaiser and 23-year-old Vazquez escaped, but were caught a week later resulting in a 3-hour standoff between Kaiser and SWAT at his home.

Investigators searched his home and discovered a 9mm handgun under his mattress which matched the caliber of the weapon used at the crime scene.

He was arrested and charged with 4 counts of aggravated assault, 2 counts of felony battery with a deadly weapon, 2 counts of felony battery resulting in moderate bodily injury, 2 counts of misdemeanor battery, 1 count misdemeanor each of carrying a handgun without a license and disorderly conduct.

Vazquez was given a suspended sentence and placed on one-year probation.

Both wounded judges were taken to the hospital and recovered from their injuries. Adams was charged with misdemeanor battery resulting in bodily injury, and 3 counts of misconduct, while both Sabrina Bell and Bradley Jacobs were both charged with 2 counts each of misconduct.

All Clark County Judges have been reinstated back to their duties as court officials, while Kaiser remains defending his actions that night and set to go to court in March of this year.

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