Tensions between two families living in an apartment complex reached fatal levels over the weekend. Jason Pass, a 47-year-old Brooklyn resident and former prison guard, is currently wanted by police for shooting a father and stepson. The whole incident was captured on video.
Now, Pass’s family is arguing that the shooting was an act of self-defense, as Pass and the other family have been fighting with each other for months. To back up this allegation, police reported that over 311 calls to the police were made from Pass’ apartment complaining about noise since March 8, 2022. While it’s not confirmed, Pass’ family members also claim that the upstairs neighbors let their water overflow in order to intentionally damage the lower unit.
In contrast, the other family argues that Pass has been harassing and intimidating them over ‘normal’ noise levels.
Authorities say that the argument broke out on Sunday night in the Flatbush Gardens apartment building. It appears that the reason the fight broke out is due to noise. Pass was staying in an apartment unit that was directly below the unit owned by 47-year-old Bladimy Mathurin. Unhappy with the noise levels, Pass went up to confront the upstairs family.
Surveillance footage shows Pass, Mathurin, and Mathurin’s stepson all started arguing over the noise levels when things got heated. Surveillance footage confirms that Mathurin went into his apartment unit and returned into the hallway with a pair of scissors. He reportedly held the pair of scissors to Pass’ chest in a moment of rage.
At that moment, it seems like Mathurin’s wife attempted to de-escalate the situation by begging her husband to go back inside. That’s when Pass used a pistol with a green laser scope to start opening fire on the others. At the time, Mathurin had his back to the shooter. Mathurin was reportedly hit in the back and the head as he was fleeing. Mathurin’s stepson was also shot.
After the incident, Pass can be seen in the video footage calling an elevator and then leaving the building going east. Authorities are currently searching for Pass, and anyone with information is being asked to contact the police department.
The Components of Self-Defense as Legal Criminal Defense Strategy
When you’ve been charged with a violent crime, arguing that you committed the violence in an act of self-defense is a viable legal strategy in some situations. To prove your actions were in self-defense, though, your situation needs to include the following elements:
- Innocence: The attack was unprovoked
- Imminence: The attack threatens imminent injury or death
- Proportionality: The degree of force was proportionate to the level of force used against you
- Reasonableness: The objectively reasonable degree of force in response to the proportionality
If you were recently charged with a crime and you plan on arguing self-defense, then be sure to talk your plan over with a lawyer before your hearing. If you’re in NYC or a nearby area, then we can help. Schedule a case review with our team now to get started.
