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WEST PALM BEACH

A Stand Your Ground defense has freed a suburban West Palm Beach man charged with shooting and wounding his brother-in-law during an argument two years ago.

Judge John S. Kastrenakes on Monday dismissed a charge of attempted first-degree murder against Harlan Tuitt, 35, ruling in favor of a defense motion to dismiss the case under the states Stand Your Ground law.

Tuitt had been accused in the February 2015 shooting of his brother-in-law during an argument at Tuitts home on Bosque Lane, south of Gun Club Road and west of Haverhill Road.

We think the judge made a proper and wise decision, defense attorney Eric Schwartzreich said. Today justice was done.

Defense attorneys argued that Tuitt was defending himself after being threatened in his home. The Stand Your Ground law authorizes people to meet force with deadly force in their homes, cars or any place they feel their lives in are in danger without a duty to try to retreat.

Had Tuitt gone to trial and been convicted, he could have faced 25 years to life in prison.

On the night of Feb. 19, 2015, Tuitt called 911 to tell authorities he had shot his brother-in-law four times. He told investigators his brother-in-law showed up to his home uninvited. The men drank alcohol as Tuitt celebrated a promotion a work.

According to defense attorneys, Tuitt began discussing a business he was planning to start and offered his brother-in-law a job working at minimum wage The offer angered Tuitts brother-in-law, who began making threats, attorneys said in a motion filed in court.

Tuitt told investigators he was forced to defend himself when his brother-in-law came at him aggressively. The bullets struck the brother-in-law in the torso, buttocks, arm and legs. Investigators spoke to the shooting victim the following day at St. Marys Medical Center.

The man said he had been invited to celebrate Tuitts promotion. He said Tuitt became upset when he mentioned Tuitts actions at a Super Bowl party. The man said he believed Tuitt was intoxicated and was trying to kill him.

Tuitts wife told investigators she was in the kitchen when she heard screaming and yelling prior to the shooting. She could not recall what was said. She told investigators the moment was a blur, and she was non-committal with details about the shooting, police said in their report.

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BREAKING: 'Stand Your Ground' defense frees man who shot brother-in-law - Palm Beach Post