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Taylor police body cam footage shows aftermath of deadly confrontation between neighbors over firewood

46-year-old was fatally shot

TAYLOR, Mich. – Police body camera video shows the aftermath of a deadly fight between neighbors in Taylor.

Investigators said a 73-year-old Taylor man shot his neighbor multiple times as they argued about the wood from a fallen tree. The incident happened on the evening of June 15 in the 6400 block of Cornell Street in Taylor.

Original: Man charged in fatal shooting over free firewood in Taylor

Eddie Hicks appeared before a judge on Thursday on murder charges. Hicks was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and faces two felony firearm charges in the death of 46-year-old Barry Bellestri.

Police said when they arrived at the scene Hicks was sitting calmly outside his home right after the shooting. He told officers the gun was inside and he was placed in handcuffs.

Police said the fight was about Bellestri giving away big chunks of a tree that fell in his yard. Hicks used a chain to pull logs down their street and Bellestri thought Hicks was damaging the road so he confronted Bellestri.

Hicks is a CPL holder and carried a gun in a holster on his hip. Police said he used that weapon to fatally shoot Bellestri.

Hicks’ wife and daughter said it was a case of self-defense, saying Bellestri attacked him with a shovel. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said “more complete facts” will be presented at the preliminary examination.

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About the Authors
Shawn Ley headshot

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.

Kayla Clarke headshot

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.

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