Judge denies motion from defendant accused of shooting 3 men

Quenton Dodson, 24, and his attorney, Ronald McDuffie, claimed there wasn’t enough evidence provided at the district court’s preliminary examination to bind the case over to circuit court and made a motion to quash, which seeks to reverse a previous court’s decision.

“I think the court may have lost its way with this determination,” said McDuffie.

McDuffie told Morris she should read the 100-page plus preliminary examination transcript.

“You need to get the full flavor of what transpired,” he said. “The intent to commit those offenses was never proven.”

Dodson faces numerous felonies, including assault with intent to murder, for a drug-related shooting that occurred in the 300 block of Jarvis Street, near where he lived. Dodson is accused of getting into a car with a handgun and shooting three occupants after a struggle. The victims were between the ages of 18 and 20.

Just how the scenario played out the night of March 23 was the subject of debate in court Monday. McDuffie argued if Dodson intended to murder any of the three victims, he wouldn’t have gotten into the car.

There were three people in the backseat and one in the driver’s seat, McDuffie said. He questioned why Dodson would hop in the front seat.

“Why would he put himself in that position?” McDuffie said. “The logical thing to do would be to stand outside.”

Dodson also never allegedly pointed the gun at the victim in the driver’s seat, according to McDuffie, and the only reason the gun went off was because someone grabbed the gun.

Assistant Washtenaw County Prosecutor Paul Barnett, going off of the preliminary examination transcripts, painted a slightly different picture.

Barnett said that during a drug transaction Dodson allegedly took the money, but didn’t give the men the promised drugs. At the time of the shooting, it was reported the drugs in question were Oxycontin.

Barnett said Dodson directed the vehicle to a specific parking space and brought a loaded handgun with him. Barnett then alleges Dodson got into the vehicle, pulled the keys out of the ignition, racked the gun and pointed it at the driver, who ended up being shot.

“It’s clear he’s using the handgun to cause injury,” Barnett said, adding that the district court magistrate appropriately sent the case up to the higher court.

Siding with the prosecution, Morris said all that is needed to bind a case over to circuit court is probable cause, which the case seemed to have.

Dodson was given a trial date of Sept. 10. He faces one count of assault with intent to murder — two counts have been dropped, it was revealed in court Monday — and three counts each of assault with intent to do bodily harm less than murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. He also faces charges of carrying a concealed weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm.

Dodson remains in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $300,000 cash bond.