Pittsfield Township, Michigan

From the December 4, 2009 AnnArbor.com:

Investigators say they’ve uncovered evidence that a Pittsfield Township homeowner was acting in self-defense when he fatally shot another man outside his home Wednesday morning.

Both men were armed when they got into a dispute, police revealed this afternoon.

The accused shooter, Adham Mofiid Abu Farha, 34, was released from the Washtenaw County Jail this afternoon as police continue to investigate the shooting outside Farha’s home in the Arbor Creek subdivision.

Police say Michael Robert Rajchel, 28, of Van Buren Township, came to Farha’s home at 2361 Rockport Court, on the township’s northwest side, before 8:30 a.m. He was carrying a loaded semi-automatic handgun, Pittsfield Public Safety Director Matt Harshberger said.

The two men got into Farha’s SUV, and numerous shots were fired. About 20 elementary students were waiting at a school bus stop across the street.

Harshberger declined to say what led to the shooting. He said police are still interviewing witnesses and may release additional details early next week.

Farha, who had a concealed weapons permit, fired multiple shots, Harshberger said.

Farha could not be reached by AnnArbor.com today.

It does not appear Rajchel fired his gun, Harshberger said. He declined to reveal whether Rajchel had a concealed weapons permit.

UPDATE: From December 15, 2009 AnnArbor.com:

As investigators continue to seek a motive in the fatal shooting, they say evidence of Farha’s self-defense assertion continues to mount.

“We’ve interviewed additional witnesses and got additional information that affirms Farha’s self-defense assertion,” Pittsfield Public Safety Director Matt Harshberger said.

Police are awaiting autopsy and toxicology results before resubmitting the case to prosecutors to decide whether to file any criminal charges against Farha. He was arrested the morning of the shooting and then was released two days later while police continued to investigate.

Harshberger said Farha and Rajchel had a business relationship involving automobiles, but declined to elaborate. He said the motive of the shooting remains unclear.