No charges in home invasion shooting

Self-defense cited; intruder called himself ‘Satan,’ charged resident

A Clare homeowner who shot and killed a man who broke into his home and said that he was Satan will not face criminal charges.

Clare County Prosecutor Michelle Ambrozaitis announced in a social media post on Wednesday afternoon that she will not file criminal charges against the Mcewan Street man, who killed Kevin Lighthall, 48, in the early hours of May 5.

“Lighthall entered the home in the early morning hours without permission of the homeowners. He would not leave when asked to do so and claimed that he was ‘Satan’,” Ambrozaitis wrote in her opinion. “Lighthall violated the sanctity and safety of their home. The homeowner did not fire upon Lighthall until Lighthall charged toward him. In light of Lighthall’s aggressive demeanor and claims that he was ‘Satan,’ the homeowner certainly acted under the honest and reasonable belief that he or the others in the home were in immediate danger of death or serious injury and that immediate action was necessary to protect himself and the others in the home.”

“The homeowner was legally justified in shooting Lighthall and no criminal charges will be filed against him.”

Ambrozaitis wrote that her decision was based on a review of bodycam footage and investigative reports from the Clare Police and the Michigan State Police.

The opinion also identified Lighthall as a man who police had run into earlier that night during a suspicious person call to Rosewood Manor. Officers identified Lighthall as the man who reportedly claimed that he was, “The State,” and that he owned the place. When officers approached him, he told them that he was “Satan.”

Lighthall refused police requests to stop and talk to them, the opinion stated. When Lighthall walked out of the home, one of the officers said he’d be a problem later.

Hours later, Clare police were called to the home at 1311 N. Mcewan St.

The homeowner said that Lighthall came in a door that the homeowner said might have been left unlocked the previous night. The homeowner surprised Lighthall in the kitchen and said, “Oh, f--k.”

He told police he ordered Lighthall to leave the house, to which he said Lighthall responded with, “F--k you, I’m Satan.”

The homeowner said he positioned himself between two rooms containing his wife and an 18-year-old family friend while his wife called police.

The first officer arrived and called into the house from a door leading into the kitchen, Ambrozaitis wrote. Lighthall yelled, “Get the f--k out of here, I’m Satan, motherf--ker” at him.

The officer asked for backup to expedite getting there for fear it was going to escalate. Clare’s police chief arrived shortly after

and talked to Lighthall, who opened the door and slammed it.

The Clare police chief entered the house and Lighthall then charged the homeowner, who fired three times. Two of the bullets hit Lighthall, one in the chest and one in the abdomen.

Lighthall died. A later toxicology screen found marijuana and methamphetamine in his blood.