The man accused of shooting and killing another man at the City of Chico's unhoused encampment was arraigned this week.
Gerald Michael Thompson has been charged with three crimes. The most serious is felony possession of a firearm by a felon. He’s also facing two misdemeanor charges: giving a false name to officers and drug possession.
"But we did not file any homicide charges," said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey. "Police investigators and my prosecutors concluded that he had a reasonable self-defense claim."
"Under California law, if you have a reasonable fear of imminent death … you have a right to … defend yourself."- Mike Ramsey, Butte County District Attorney
The shooting took place on July 7, after one of Thompson's dogs attacked another dog in the camp. Its owner, and victim of the shooting, Donald Stevens, aggressively approached Thompson brandishing a loaded sawed-off shotgun. Ramsey said Thompson then armed himself with a revolver as the argument escalated.
"[Thompson] tells his story of self-defense, which matches up with the independent witnesses' stories that he had a reasonable fear that Mr. Stevens was imminently ready and was going to shoot him." Ramsey said. "Under California law, if you have a reasonable fear of imminent death … you have a right to … defend yourself."
Ramsey said Thompson hid for three days after the shooting, partially due to fear of gang retribution. Stevens was allegedly tied to white supremacist and neo-nazi gangs in the area.
Thompson is set to appear in court again later this week.
