LA PLATA, Md. — Dayton Webber, the quadruple amputee cornhole participant going through homicide fees, intends to argue that he acted in self-defense when he shot a passenger in his automobile final week, his attorneys indicated in a courtroom listening to Wednesday.
Webber, a former professional within the American Cornhole League, has been accused of capturing Brad Wells whereas they have been touring in Webber’s automobile exterior La Plata, Maryland, on March 22. The 2 had a verbal argument earlier than the capturing, the opposite passengers within the automobile informed police. Webber’s attorneys argued it was “a clear-cut case of self-defense.”
“Dayton Webber shouldn’t be responsible,” mentioned Hammad S. Matin, one among his attorneys. “Dayton was scared of being killed. Dayton knew that he needed to shoot or be killed.”
Webber’s attorneys introduced up the notion of self-defense at a bond listening to for his or her shopper in Charles County District Court docket — the primary since Webber was extradited from Virginia earlier this week. He appeared remotely, carrying an orange jumpsuit as he was proven on a video monitor within the courtroom.
Although Matin argued that Webber wouldn’t be a flight threat and didn’t pose a threat to the group, Charles County District Court docket Choose Patrick Divine in the end sided with the state prosecutor, Karen Piper Mitchell, and ordered that he proceed to be held with out bond.
Piper Mitchell famous that Webber may very well be a flight threat as a result of he was arrested throughout state traces in Charlottesville, Virginia, after allegedly capturing Wells in Maryland. She added that he owns a number of weapons and has been identified to fireside them from a second-story window in his house.
“He stays a hazard,” Piper Mitchell mentioned throughout the listening to.
Piper Mitchell demurred when requested in a information convention exterior the courthouse in regards to the self-defense claims. “Protection has to symbolize their shopper in the easiest way they’ll,” she mentioned.
The listening to introduced ahead new particulars a couple of case that has generated nationwide headlines over the previous week.
Piper Mitchell informed the courtroom that Webber and Wells had been “arguing for a while” earlier than the alleged capturing, and the argument revolved round Wells’ continued friendship with an individual Webber believed had stolen weapons from him.
She additionally mentioned police discovered a gun within the automobile in keeping with the homicide weapon in addition to a field matching the weapon at Webber’s home. Webber’s attorneys didn’t handle the invention of the weapon throughout the bond listening to however mentioned their shopper is a authorized gun proprietor and had a hid carry allow.
Each Piper Mitchell and Webber’s attorneys referenced an argument between Webber and Wells in 2024, when Webber allegedly ordered Wells to go away his property. Piper Mitchell mentioned Webber is reported to have fired a gunshot in Wells’ course as he left. Webber’s attorneys mentioned their shopper fired a gunshot within the air. No fees have been filed.
Webber’s attorneys mentioned Wells had threatened Webber on the time and had “a historical past of violence.” Anita Stewart Murchison, Wells’ mom, questioned the attorneys’ claims and informed ESPN that Wells wasn’t a violent particular person, describing him as mild-mannered and shy. She mentioned she was “relieved” in regards to the decide’s ruling.
The 2 passengers within the backseat of the automobile throughout the capturing informed police that Webber had requested them to maneuver Wells’ physique out of the automobile, however they declined and fled. When requested about this declare, Webber’s attorneys mentioned there was “no proof” that the witnesses have been requested to “alter proof, to lie, to cowl something up.”
Piper Mitchell mentioned the police investigation is ongoing and that the state’s legal professional workplace wouldn’t determine the passengers by identify at this stage.
Wells’ physique was discovered within the yard of a home about 10 miles away from the place police imagine the capturing occurred, whereas Webber was positioned at a hospital in Charlottesville. Matin mentioned in courtroom that Webber referred to as him from the hospital, the place he was affected by anxiousness and having a panic assault.
Police additionally discovered Webber’s white Tesla at a fuel station subsequent door, and Piper Mitchell mentioned the automobile had solely sufficient battery remaining to journey 40 miles.
To this point, police have obtained a search warrant for Webber’s automobile’s thumb drive to “protect any video proof” of the alleged crimes caught on the Tesla’s a number of exterior cameras, in accordance with Virginia courtroom information. Additionally they examined Webber’s clothes and took DNA swabs from his arms, in accordance with a duplicate of the search warrant obtained by ESPN.
Webber, 27, is a lifelong resident of La Plata who listed his occupation in courtroom information as “motivational speaker.”
In a 2023 profile, Webber’s mother and father informed ESPN that his legs and arms have been amputated when he was 10 months previous to avoid wasting his life after he contracted a blood an infection that led to sepsis. He went on to change into an expert cornhole participant for at the least two years, whereas being topped Maryland’s greatest cornhole participant in 2020. He final appeared within the ACL rankings within the 2023-24 season.
In an announcement Tuesday, the Charles County Sheriff’s Workplace acknowledged Webber’s “particular medical and mobility wants” as a quadruple amputee. Piper Mitchell mentioned the Charles County Detention Middle already has lodging beneath the People with Disabilities Act and Webber may make extra requests if wanted.
Webber’s subsequent courtroom look is scheduled for Could 6.
