He stopped a mall shooter at 19, then got probation for carrying

A 19-year-old shot and killed a gunman inside a Michigan mall, and prosecutors agreed he acted in self-defense. He was still convicted of carrying without a license, and at sentencing the judge called having the gun "poor judgment." Jared Yanis argues the case exposes a gap between the right to self-defense and the right to carry.

The short version

According to Yanis, the shooting happened July 3, 2026, at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office says that during an altercation, Cameron Watkins took a handgun from another 19-year-old's purse, shot and killed a person, and kept firing inside the mall. Martinez Long, also 19, shot and killed Watkins. Prosecutors ruled Long's use of force justified as self-defense or defense of others and brought no homicide charge.

Long was instead charged with carrying a concealed weapon, because Michigan generally requires carriers to be 21 to get a license. He received two years of probation. Yanis focuses on the judge's remarks at sentencing, which questioned why Long had the gun at all right after acknowledging his actions were a valid legal defense.

Key points

• The shooting: Prosecutors say Watkins killed one person and kept shooting inside the mall before Long stopped him.
• No homicide charge: Long's shooting of Watkins was found to be justified.
• The carry charge: At 19, Long could not get a Michigan concealed pistol license, which requires carriers to be at least 21.
• The sentence: Two years of probation.
• Yanis's argument: Adults aged 18 to 20 can be held fully responsible as adults yet barred from licensed carry, an issue now being litigated around the country.

Bottom line

For carriers under 21, this case shows how a justified act of self-defense can still end in a criminal conviction under state licensing law. Watch the age-limit challenges in the courts for whether that changes.

Source: Jared Yanis