In the spring of 2012, a chance encounter on a street in Albion, Michigan, tragically cut short the life of 32-year-old Jaun Tyler Riddle. On the evening of May 4th, Riddle, a white male known for his love of softball and cage fighting, was fatally shot. The man responsible, James Earl Kimple Jr., later surrendered to the police, setting in motion a legal process that would uncover the devastating details of Riddle's final moments.
The confrontation began with a verbal exchange after
Riddle pulled his car up next to Kimple's. The situation escalated, and Riddle exited his vehicle. Kimple, claiming he feared for his life and believed Riddle might be armed, fired his 9mm handgun in Riddle's direction. As Riddle turned and fled, Kimple reloaded his weapon and fired again. One of these subsequent shots struck Jaun Tyler Riddle in the back, piercing his heart and causing his death.
At trial, James Earl Kimple Jr. maintained that he acted in self-defense. However, the physical evidence presented to the jury contradicted his account of the events. The jury ultimately found Kimple guilty of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. For his actions, he was sentenced to a prison term of 40 to 60 years for the murder, with an additional two-year consecutive sentence for the firearm conviction.
