PHOENIX (AZFamily) -- New court documents shed light on what led up to a man being shot and killed in south Phoenix, and how the suspect involved claims it was self-defense.
Quinton Pierce, 44, was charged with murder for the shooting death of Isaiah Springs, 35.
On Sunday, around 11:30 p.m., officers were called to the Vineyard Estates Apartments, near 7th Avenue and Alta Vista Road. Court documents say Pierce fired a gun, striking Springs in the abdomen. Springs was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
Before the shooting, documents say Pierce and a woman arrived at the apartment when Springs reportedly began yelling at everyone inside. Springs told Pierce, "I'll beat you up," to which Pierce responded "You come at me, I will shoot you," according to court paperwork.
Police say Pierce went to his car to grab mace and when he returned, Springs was still being aggressive. Pierce said he did not want to fight Springs, according to police.
Court papers say Pierce claimed that Springs "started to go after him" when two women stood in between them, holding Springs back. However, Springs broke free and went toward Pierce, who then fired one shot.
Pierce reportedly told police it was "out of instinct" since he is disabled and Springs was bigger than him. After firing the shot, Pierce started providing first aid to Springs and called police.
While speaking with police, Pierce repeatedly said he "should have used his mace" and didn't see Springs with a weapon, court paperwork states. He also reportedly said multiple times he "should have just left the apartment" and he "wanted to leave."
Investigators found a handgun, a spent casing and blood inside the apartment.
Authorities received several different recollections from witnesses.
One witness reported hearing the two men get into an argument and decided to take an 11-year-old child out of the apartment. As she was taking the child out, she reportedly heard a gunshot but didn't know who had been shot.
Springs' mother reportedly told police she was on a video phone call with her son, who was holding a baby, when she heard several gunshots. Court documents state she told police she saw Springs drop the baby, and the phone went dead.
Another witness said that Springs "challenged" Pierce to fight when she saw Pierce pull out his handgun and fire a shot. She claimed that Springs "was not actively trying to fight" and she "didn't believe that he deserved to be shot," court documents state. She also said that Springs did not have or own a gun.
Pierce was booked on one count of second-degree murder and one count of endangerment.