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Man charged in fatal shooting over free firewood in Taylor

73-year-old man faces charges after neighbor’s deadly shooting

A father was shot and killed in Taylor following a dispute over free firewood June 15, 2021.

TAYLOR, Mich. – A 73-year-old Taylor man is charged in connection with a fatal shooting June 15 in the 6400 block of Cornell Street.

Eddie Arnold Hicks is accused of shooting a neighbor multiple times during a physical altercation on that Tuesday evening. Officials said the victim, 46-year-old Barry Bellestri, was giving away firewood and became upset when Hicks was dragging it, tearing up his driveway.

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The two men exchanged words when shots were fired. 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.

Hicks faces one count of second-degree murder, one count of manslaughter, and two counts of felony firearm. He is expected to be arraigned Thursday in 23rd District Court.

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