Suspect: St. Clair Twp. fatal shooting was self defense

A Hamilton man charged in connection with a fatal shooting Monday night in St. Clair Twp. told detectives he shot Maurice Chatman in self defense.

Eric Brown, 19, of the 900 block of South Second Street, Hamilton, is charged with having weapons under disability, a felony, and obstructing justice and tampering with evidence.

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Brown was questioned by Butler County Sheriff’s detectives shortly after Chatman was found dead outside a car near the intersection of Eaton and Warwick roads about 6:40 p.m., according to court documents.

Brown said he was a back seat passenger in a car driven by Chatman when Chatman stopped the vehicle “and demanded money from him and threatened to shoot him,” according to court documents obtained by the Journal-News..

“Mr. Brown stated he pulled a gun from his pants and shot Mr. Chatman several times,” Detective Ryan Hensley wrote in the court documents.

Detectives said Brown then disposed of the gun in a creek.

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A 17-year-old boy is also charged with obstructing justice and tampering with evidence, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

The teen was arraigned Wednesday in Butler County Juvenile Court, where he was ordered to remain in the county juvenile detention center until a pretrial hearing June. 12.

Brown was arraigned Wednesday in Hamilton Municipal Court, where bond was set at $75,000. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. He remains in the Butler County Jail.

Chatman’s death was ruled a homicide Wednesday by the Butler County Coroner’s Office after an autopsy. He died of gunshot wounds, according to the coroner’s report.

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