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'I panicked' | Grand Rapids man calls 911, says he fatally shot man during altercation

Court documents detail the altercation that led up to the single shot fired at Brandon Doir Clark last Saturday.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Court documents filed against a 24-year-old Grand Rapids man accused in a fatal shooting show he admitted to it multiple times. 

The Grand Rapids Police Department said around 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, someone shot and killed 39-year-old Brandon Clark in the parking lot of a liquor store at the corner of Hall and Cass Street. 

He died from a single gunshot wound to the upper chest. 

Moments after the shooting, the alleged shooter called 911 to report the crime. 

"I shot once and ran," Dayshaun Catledge reportedly told dispatchers. "I panicked." 

Catledge is facing open murder and felony firearm charges in the killing. 

In a probable cause affidavit, detectives said Catledge told investigators he was attacked. Catledge reportedly said his father was struck with a brick.  

Video surveillance showed Catledge and his father arrive in a silver Impala at the Beer Run liquor store, where the initial confrontation happened. 

The victim, Brandon Clark, entered the store and later came outside to talk to Catledge. 

Clark can be heard on surveillance video asking, "why he pulled a gun out on him last week?"

Detectives said the video shows Clark punch Catledge in the face with his left hand, and then appears to pepper spray him. 

Investigators say Catledge's father then hit Clark with a fist. Police allege Clark then threw an object, hitting Catledge's father in the forehead. 

"It's pretty clear from the surveillance video that the victim in this case, started a fight," said GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom. 

That's when Clark ran north down the alley. 

Detectives said at this point, Catledge got out of the car and ran after Clark into a backyard on Lafayette Avenue. 

The two went out of camera view for a short period of time before detectives said you can hear a single gunshot. 

"What happened after the shooter then got out of his vehicle and ran to the individual a short distance away, I think that's that's more important," said Winstrom. "It bears making note that introducing a firearm to a fistfight always has deadly consequences. Introducing a firearm to just an altercation on the street oftentimes has deadly consequences."

After the shot, Catledge can be seen running back to the car where his father is. 

"I just shot him," authorities said you can hear Catledge say on video. The pair then left the area. 

During an interview with detectives, Catledge said the second altercation happened in that backyard. He told investigators Clark "bear hugs him," and then asked him about his gun. 

Catledge said he was able to get some distance and pulled out his gun from the right side of his waistband. He said he fired one shot.

He said after he pulled the trigger, he took off running back to his car. 

Catledge is due back in court next week. 

According to Winstrom, Catledge's father is not currently facing any charges. 

"We'll look at things regarding self defense in an incident like this where there was an altercation at first," said Winstrom. "Some of the elements that the prosecutor, a trier of fact in the future, would look at is time between the initial incident and when the shooting took place, things like that, whether the victim in this case was was truly a threat to the individual that shot him. So, there's a lot of facts that I'm sure will come out likely at trial."

RELATED: Victim identified in fatal Grand Rapids shooting Saturday, suspect charged

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