Mother of Shooting Suspect Claims Self Defense

TYLER – The mother of a Tyler man is coming to her son’s defense following his arrest after reports of gunshots in the city. According to KETK, Brandon Choice’s mother, Ruthie Bride, said her son was being attacked by several people. She claims she gave Choice the gun and told him to fire warning shots. One shot allegedly struck the car of one of the attackers. She said she’ll file charges against the attackers.

Just before 2:15 Saturday morning, Tyler police received a call from a residence located within the 500 block of Maxwell Drive about a suspicious person running across their yard and the sounds of gun shots in the distance. Arriving officers were notified of persons located on east M.L. King Boulevard they were shot at moments earlier on Maxwell Drive. When given a suspect’s name, they contacted Choice, 28, at his Maxwell Drive home. Following an investigation, Choice was booked into the Smith County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to Sgt. Matthew Smyser, no injuries were reported in the incident.