Wednesday, December 03, 2008
CA: Shooter in shotgun slaying acted in self-defense: "A man wanted in connection with the Sept. 17 shooting death of 54-year-old Hayward resident George Bailes turned himself in to Alameda County Sheriff's deputies Sunday afternoon... Bailes, 54, was shot and killed in an Ashland apartment on the 1500 block of 167th Avenue at about 5:45 p.m. Sept. 17. Sgt. David Dickson said police believe Eddleman shot Bailes in the chest with a shotgun after a chaotic life-or-death struggle. The fight began with a dispute over a car owned by Aaron Hammond, 33, whose girlfriend drove it to San Francisco to see Eddleman, Dickson explained. On the night of the shooting, four other people were present at the Ashland residence when Hammond and Eddleman got into a confrontation over the vehicle in a back bedroom. Hammond fired a handgun at Eddleman and missed, Dickson said. Bailes then charged into the bedroom with a shotgun to defend Hammond, and a struggle over the weapon ensued, Dickson said. In a bloody struggle in which the shotgun was discharged into the ceiling and a knife came into play, the men crashed through a sliding glass shower door before Eddleman finally gained control of the shotgun and shot Bailes, who was falling backward, Dickson said. "It was clearly a violent struggle," Dickson said. "Eddleman was in a fight for his life." Dickson said the District Attorney's Office has determined that Eddleman acted in self-defense.... George Bailes Sr., 74, of Sacramento said Bailes grew up in Hayward. He described his son as a big, tough man who had problems with drugs and the law, and had served time at San Quentin."
