Damon Darrnell Hodges, a 43-year-old man, died on Saturday, January 18, 2020, following a violent altercation at the Planet 3 Extreme Air Park in Flint Township, Michigan. The incident, which ended in his fatal shooting, was the culmination of a day filled with arguments between Hodges and his partner. The disputes reportedly stemmed from Hodges' refusal to remove snow from his partner's car and his failure to secure employment.
The conflict escalated in the parking lot of the trampoline
park, where Hodges physically assaulted his partner. Surveillance footage from inside the facility captured the subsequent events, showing Hodges attacking the woman's 14-year-old son by repeatedly shoving and hitting him. In response to the assault on her son, the woman drew a pistol and shot Hodges twice.
Following the shooting, the Genesee County Prosecutor, David Leyton, announced that the 39-year-old woman would not face any charges. The decision was based on evidence that she acted in self-defense to protect her son from what was perceived as imminent, life-threatening harm. Leyton detailed a long history of violent behavior by Hodges, dating back to 1993, which included multiple instances of domestic violence and a conviction for child abuse that resulted in a 15-year prison sentence. The prosecutor concluded that the woman's belief that her life and the life of her son were in danger was honest and reasonable under the circumstances.
