Ohio Dog Park Shootout Leaves 2 Men Claiming Self-Defense After Trump Argument

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 10

81-year-old Emmanuel Mathews and 55-year-old David Mattai could both win self-defense claims — or both lose them — after an April 21 shootout at an Ohio dog park, according to a Case Western Reserve law professor.
The legal dispute turns on who escalated the clash: authorities say a Trump argument became a physical fight, then gunfire after Mathews allegedly fired once and Mattai allegedly returned six shots.
Mathews has pleaded not guilty to felonious assault and says Mattai grabbed and headbutted him before he tried to leave; Mattai has said he fired only after seeing Mathews' gun and fearing for his safety.
Ohio's no-duty-to-retreat law does not protect the person who first escalates to deadly force, the expert said, making the sequence of the parking-lot confrontation central to both cases.
Mathews' trial is set for Feb. 16 and carries a potential 5- to 15-year sentence, while Mattai — arrested Aug. 5 on misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct charges — has a pretrial hearing on Oct. 28.