- Posted January 17, 2014
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Lawyer says freeway shooter troubled, not a terrorist
HOWELL, Mich. (AP) -- A man charged with firing his gun randomly at vehicles along Interstate 96 in Michigan is emotionally troubled but not a terrorist, a defense lawyer told jurors Wednesday.
Raulie Casteel, 44, is contesting terrorism and assault charges but not firearms charges in connection with the two dozen shootings in late 2012. Police say they matched his gun to bullet fragments recovered from victims' vehicles in four counties. No one was seriously hurt.
Describing his client as an experienced hunter and target shooter, defense attorney Charles Groh said Casteel "was chasing demons" when the shootings occurred.
Groh argued that his client wasn't trying to hurt anyone.
"He can shoot where he aims," he said. "He's not 0 for 23 for nothing."
One person suffered a minor injury.
Michigan assistant attorney general Gregory Townsend told jurors at Livingston County Circuit Court in Howell a different story, saying Casteel was trying to shoot people in the vehicles he targeted.
Jennifer Kubiak, an owner of a Subway shop in Brighton, was "only milliseconds away" from dying when a bullet from Casteel's handgun traveled through the door handle and embedded into the passenger door as she drove to Lansing to visit a friend, Townsend said.
Casteel pleaded no contest in November to related charges in Oakland County and is awaiting a sentence.
Court proceedings ended about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and were scheduled to resume Thursday.
Published: Fri, Jan 17, 2014
headlines Oakland County
- Annual Dinner & Meeting
- FORCE Team arrests six in prolific auto theft ring
- Michigan allocates $12 million to support community-based organizations in advancing environmental and climate justice
- Oakland County and SMART launch pilot program providing free transit for veterans and dependents
- Supreme Court sides with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
headlines National
- More lawyers—and clients—want to learn about sustainable development practices
- Top artificial intelligence insurance tips for lawyers
- Lawyer charged with illegally transmitting Michigan data after 2020 election
- Viral video shows former Rikers Island inmate as she learns she passed bar exam on first try
- How Sullivan & Cromwell is scrutinizing potential new hires after campus protests
- No separate hearing required when police seize cars loaned to drivers accused of drug crimes, SCOTUS rules