WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — A shooting that killed a man in a West Memphis home early Thursday morning was ruled self-defense by police.
Officers responded to 147 Stuart Avenue at 4:30 a.m. for a report that a man had kicked in the door to an apartment and was collapsed in the bedroom doorway.
Police identified the man as Bernard Bullins, 26, and said he was found dead with gunshot wounds.
After investigation, police said they found that a man and his girlfriend were asleep inside the apartment when they heard the front door being kicked in. The man said he grabbed a gun from his nightstand, got out of bed and saw an unknown man in the hallway.
Fearing for his life, police said the man shot Bullins twice in the chest.
Neighbors say, until recently, Bullins had lived in the home with his girlfriend and was likely upset that she was seeing someone new.
“I know he figured someone was inside with her, and when they kicked the door in they shot and killed him,” a neighbor said.
No charges are being filed.
