9/4/14 - Livingston County Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt has announced charges of open murder against a Howell man involved in a fatal shooting earlier this week.69-year-old Martin Edward Zale has been arraigned on murder and firearms charges in the Tuesday shooting of 43-year-old Derek Flemming of Howell. At a press conference this afternoon, Vailliencourt told reporters that numerous witnesses have been interviewed, and his office is confident in its charges, though the ultimate decision will be up to a jury. Vailliencourt confirmed that Zale had a license to carry a concealed pistol, but said that he supported the right to bear arms and that this case was not about gun rights. According to the attorney for the victimâs family, Flemming and his wife were driving eastbound on Grand River to pick up their two children from their first day of school when they encountered a pickup truck driven by Zale. He says Zale was driving dangerously and erratically, and when the two vehicles came to a stop at Chilson Road Flemming got out of his car to approach Zale and ask âWhatâs your problem.â Zale then produced a pistol and fatally shot Flemming. Vailliencourt confirmed today that Zale voluntarily surrendered to police following the incident. The prosecutorâs office is asking anyone who may have seen the shooting or the events preceding it to come forward and provide any information they can to the Livingston County Sheriffâs Department. (TD)
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