#self-defense-claim

#self-defense-claim

"Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone," Kern de Gonzales wrote, adding that the incident came after "two years of threats" over their sexuality. "We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life."

"He didn't take matters into his own hands,"

In December 2022, Oliver was walking down the street in the early morning when Thomas approached him in an unmarked vehicle three separate times, according to the evidence in the case. Oliver testified that Thomas made sexual advances toward him, which Oliver rejected. Upon being approached a third time, Oliver shot into Thomas's vehicle, killing him. Oliver, who said he had feared for his safety, then fled the scene. Prosecutors insisted that his actions constituted murder.