Man who 'gunned down innocent African-American woman, 19, on his porch' called police to confess 'I just shot someone' moments after

In a 911 call made moments after Renisha McBride was gunned down in Detroit, the man said he thought he had shot someone and then hung up
The police dispatcher then re-established contact with him and he told her he didn't know who the victim was
Minutes after that an officer arrived at the scene of the killing and said: 'There's somebody down on the porch ... it appears it's going to be a black female'
The audio recording is from the early hours of November 2, when tragic Ms McBride was gunned down in Dearborn Heights, Michigan

PUBLISHED: 23:16 EST, 12 November 2013 | UPDATED: 01:02 EST, 13 November 2013

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The unnamed man who gunned down 19-year-old Renisha McBride after she knocked on his door looking for help, called police soon after saying he had, 'just shot someone on his porch.'

In an emergency call made moments after the tragic incident, he said he thought he had shot someone and then hung up. The police dispatcher then re-established contact with him and he told her he didn't know who the victim was.

Minutes after that an officer arrived at the scene of the killing and said: 'There's somebody down on the porch ... it appears it's going to be a black female.'

The Detroit News got hold of the audio footage from the early hours of November 2, when tragic Ms McBride was gunned down in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.

911 call: The unnamed man who gunned down 19-year-old Renisha McBride, pictured, after she knocked on his door looking for help, called police soon after saying he had, 'just shot someone on his porch'

Ms McBride – who is black - apparently knocked on the door in the predominantly white neighborhood, looking for help after crashing her car a few blocks away.

The audio obtained through Broadcastify provides a glimpse into the events of that morning.

At 4.46am the female dispatcher says: 'Just received a 911 call from a male (who) thinks he just shot someone on his porch. Then he hung up; we're trying to call back.'

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About a minute later, the dispatcher radioed: 'Units responding: We have the male on the line. (He) states he doesn’t know this person. Trying to get further (information).'

A responding officer told the dispatcher: 'There's somebody down on the porch ... it appears it's going to be a black female.'

The shooter has not been named by police, has not been arrested and is currently a free man, sparking outrage among the local community and infuriating Ms McBride's family.

Some people have suggested the killing was racially motivated and likened it to the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old who was killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer while walking home.

Immediately after Ms McBride's death the 54-year-old homeowner apparently claimed he pulled the trigger by accident, but in recent days his lawyer has said he was in fear for his life.

Grieving parents: Monica McBride (left) and Walter Ray Simmons (second left), parents of shooting victim Renisha McBride, speak to reporters after their daughter's funeral service in Detroit

'There was a lot of banging. It was a lot of noise, and it didn't sound like just knocking,' attorney Cheryl Carpenter told Michigan Radio in an interview released on Monday.

'This is a tragedy for everybody involved, and the homeowner is completely torn up. He realizes another person's life was taken. It was a young woman, and he is devastated by that fact,' she added.

Police requested an arrest warrant from Wayne County prosecutors officers last week, but it was denied.

On Monday, an autopsy revealed the victim had died from a gunshot wound to the face and the death was ruled as a homicide. The report from the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, said there was 'no evidence of close range discharge of a firearm.'

Despite that ruling, prosecutors have still refused to issue a warrant, with a spokeswoman saying on Tuesday that they were 'waiting to receive several items relating to the investigation from the Dearborn Heights Police Department at this time.'

She added: 'We have begun the warrant review process. News will be released when a charging decision has been made.' It is believed the warrant will be issued before the end of the week.

And according to their lawyer, Ms McBride's family are now prepared to wait, as long as charges are brought against the shooter and they result in a conviction.

Heavy burden: Pallbearers carry the casket for 19-year-old shooting victim Renisha McBride

'The family is more concerned in getting a conviction after he's charged than just getting him charged,' said Gerald Thurswell. 'The only way justice will be served is by getting a conviction, not just by filing charges.'

'If you know the prosecutor involved in this case, then you'll know she often takes her time because she wants to make sure she gets a conviction and she has a very high conviction rate.'

Thurswell added that the prosecutor is reviewing the arrest warrant request and asking for toxicology reports on McBride, more ballistic information and McBride's cellphone records.

The incident has brought Michigan's 'stand your ground' law back into the spotlight. The controversial legislation gives individuals the right to use deadly force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation.

But Thurswell does not think that is a valid line of defense in this case. He said: 'She had no weapon. She's five feet four inches tall. He's got a shotgun. He has to show that he's in imminent fear of his life. How's he going to show that?

'All he had to do was stay in his house, and if he came outside with his shotgun, he didn't have to pull the trigger.'

Taken too soon: Mourners hold roses after attending the funeral service for 19-year-old shooting victim Renisha McBride

On the night in question Ms McBride crashed her car into a parked vehicle just before 1am. A neighbor called police and tried to help Ms McBride who was apparently disorientated and bleeding from her head.

But in her confused state she wandered off. At 1.40am a police cruiser was dispatched to the scene, but Ms McBride was gone. She walked for a few blocks, before knocking on the shooter's door. She was not shot until around 4am and it is not known what she had been doing for the two-and-a-half hours before her death.

Her funeral was held over the weekend at the House of Prayers and Praise Cathedral on Detroit's west side.

During the service, family and friends celebrated McBride's life with pictures and remembrances of the former cheerleader and recent high school graduate.

Friends described Ms McBride as an outgoing girl who loved cars and shopping. She had graduated from Southfield High School, where she was in the cheer squad, in 2012. Ms McBride had recently begun a job working for the Ford Motor Company.

Homage: Family and friends wore sweaters emblazoned with Renisha McBride's face for her funeral

According to the Detroit News, the family had to have a closed casket due to the terrible injuries she sustained.

'We couldn’t get a chance to look at her for the last time,' said Krystal Byrd, who said she was McBride's cousin. 'We need justice.'

Funeral attendee Ife Johari, said: 'I just want to know why this man is at home while I'm at this funeral. We want to know why this man hasn't been arrested.'

'This man's claiming – he believed the girl was breaking into the home. And he's also saying the gun discharged accidentally,' Lieutenant James Serwatowski of the Royal Oak Police said.

While it was originally reported that Renisha was shot in the back of the head - Lieutenant Serwatowski says that's not true.

'The girl was not shot in the back of the head while leaving the porch. I don't know where the family is getting this. She was shot in the front of the face, near the mouth.'

Lieutenant Serwatowski also wouldn't make any definitive stance on whether or not Renisha was looking for help, drawing attention to the large gap of time between the accident and the shooting.

'She was in a car accident, but I don't know if she was trying to get help or what she was doing,' he said.

Demanding justice: Protesters held a rally tonight outside the Dearborn Heights Police Department

Another case: Many are comparing her killing to the recent deaths of Trayvon Martin and Jonathan Ferrell - two black men shot by white men while unarmed

Representatives of the family say it doesn't matter where she was shot, but that use of a gun was needed at all.

'Wherever she was shot...she was shot defenselessly,' said Pastor W.J. Rideout, a civil and human rights activist who has been acting as a spokesman for the family. 'She didn't have a weapon and my stance is that she should never have been shot. Whether it was in the front, back, side, whatever.'

Her family believe the homeowner shot Renisha out of racism. Renisha's aunt, Bernita Spinks, wonders what would have happened had she been the one who shot a stranger: 'Would I be standing here? No. I'd be in jail without a bond.'

A group of activists rallied outside the Dearborn Heights Police station last week, calling for more attention on Renisha's case.

'Black life is not valued in America, not worthy, not respected,' said Detroit activist Yusef Shaker, who helped to lead the rally. 'Here was a woman who was seeking help from potential danger and her life was taken...It's a Trayvon Martin case all over again.'

Police have thus far released very little information on the case, which tragically parallels a case from just weeks ago.

That's when 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell crashed his car in North Carolina on September 14.

As he searched for help in a suburban neighborhood, he knocked on a door. The homeowner called 911 thinking that Ferrell, who was black, was trying to break into her home.

When police arrived and Ferrell approached them, he was Tasered. When he continued to approach them, Charlotte Police Officer Randall Kerrick opened fire and shot him 10 times.

Audio: Dispatcher details McBride shooting call

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nobody, nowhere in particular, 6 minutes ago

People can't seem to empathise with another's emotional state in the US. Try it, and you may get some answers to questions you dearly need answering.

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Pipeman, Baccytown, United Kingdom, 12 minutes ago

A different version of events from that reported last week - this could easily turn into another Trayvon free for all as the story changes with the wind

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msmickied, southern belle, 30 minutes ago

Soo it's ok to shoot people who knock on your door at night. Just wake up get your gun and shoot. Gotcha!!

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innocentbystander, London England, 31 minutes ago

he shot someone in the face for knocking on his door and he's free to do it again.if she was your daughter, sister, mother or aunt would you be so quick to brush it off? i wouldn't, that's all i'm saying.

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lola, USA, 33 minutes ago

"Michigan" what, Stacy? Not nearly as many oddballs as Florida!

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Les near Mt Fuji, Yokohama, Japan., 1 hour ago

Fair credit for owning up, lesser people would have run. Still an horrendous waste of life though, poor woman. His actions after the shooting should be taken into account but should not diminish his responsibility under the law. Just trying to be impartial.

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Stacy, Sarasota, FL, 1 hour ago

Michigan...

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BillyBob, Secerteville - USA, 1 hour ago

It seems as though the McBride family is confusing vengeance with justice. Review the facts. 1. IT'S FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING!! 2. It is dead silent at that time of the night. Any knocking is going to sound very loud. 3. The homeowner was awakened from his sleep. 4. Ms. McBride crashed into a parked car. 5. Ms. McBride sustained a head injury. 6. She left the scene of the accident while another homeowner was trying to render aid. 7. The homeowner did not know what race she was. She was outside/he was inside. A traficc accident.