JUDGE DISMISSES CHARGES IN DECATUR LIBRARY SHOOTING AFTER IMMUNITY HEARING

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Judge Ruled That Shooter Acted in Self-Defense

Decatur, Ga.- The charges against a man who shot and injured another man after a dispute inside a library in February 2026 have officially been dismissed.

On February 2, 2026, just after 5 p.m., officers responded to the Decatur branch of the DeKalb County Public Library for a report of a person shot inside. After an investigation, Decatur Police obtained arrest warrants for Medicus Brown, 44, and he turned himself in to the DeKalb County Jail on February 5, 2026.

On April 28, 2026, a DeKalb County Grand Jury indicted Brown on charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.

On May 8, 2026, Brown's defense attorney filed an Immunity Motion on his behalf asserting that the shooting was self-defense. Under Georgia law, a person may be immune from prosecution if their acts were legally justified. Georgia's self-defense statutes, particularly O.C.G.A. § 16-3-21 and § 16-3-24.2, state that a person is justified in using force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to defend themselves or a third person against imminent unlawful force. Deadly force is only justified if the individual reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent death, great bodily injury, or the commission of a forcible felony.

All defendants may file a motion and request an Immunity Hearing prior to trial if they believe it is appropriate. At that hearing, a defendant has the burden of proof. He or she must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the use of force was reasonable. A judge then makes the determination of whether the defendant is entitled to immunity from prosecution.

On August 6, 2026, DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge Shondeana C. Morris held a hearing on the Immunity Motion. During that hearing, the defense called five witnesses: the librarian on duty that day, a library security guard, a library patron, an officer with the Decatur Police Department, and a woman who was driving by the library and witnessed an altercation between Brown and the victim outside the building earlier that same day. All five of these witnesses presented evidence in support of Brown's claim that he acted in self-defense.

The evidence provided by the witnesses established that Brown and the other man had been in an ongoing dispute throughout that day that culminated in the physical altercation inside the library. The woman driving by testified that she saw the victim and Brown arguing and saw the victim throw a cinder block at Brown prior to the incident, as she passed by them in her car. The librarian, library security guard and the library patron testified that the victim had Brown in a choke hold just prior to the shooting. They testified that Brown appeared to be in imminent danger of receiving a serious injury or death.

As a result of the evidence presented at the hearing, Chief Judge Morris found the testimony of the witnesses to be credible and that Brown had met his burden under the law. Accordingly, she ruled that Brown did in fact act in self-defense and issued an order the following day on August 7, 2026, granting the defense's immunity motion and formally dismissing the charges against Brown.

This shooting was tragic and we recognize its impact on the victim and the community at large.

After a thorough and comprehensive review of all evidence and testimony presented at the hearing, we also found the witnesses to be both credible and unbiased in their accounts of the events that day. Based on the witnesses' testimony and the supporting evidence, we do not plan to appeal the ruling, nor seek any additional charges in this matter. Our decision reflects our commitment to justice, fairness, and transparency. Accordingly, based on the evidence and our findings, the case against Brown is now closed.