KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A Kalamazoo Township man is facing an open murder charge after detectives say he used a baseball bat on a man he claims was stealing his medical marijuana, which was growing in his backyard.
They say it happened at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday at a home on Huntington Avenue.
Nathan Branham reportedly used his fists and the bat to knock out 52-year-old Michael McIntyre.
McIntyre was admitted to Borgess Medical Center in critical condition and reportedly died from his injuries on Tuesday.
Police say Branham has a medical marijuana card, but they claim he was growing a lot more than he is allowed and there was evidence he might be selling it illegally.
Under Michigan’s Castle Doctrine law, a citizen is only allowed to use deadly force when life or health is at risk, not for the defense of property.
