A 25-year-old man suffering from a severe mental health episode was shot and killed after forcing his way into a neighbor’s house while carrying an axe.
The incident led to a wrongful-death lawsuit and a court ruling that the homeowner went beyond lawful self-defense.
Investigators reported that security footage showed Brandon White kicking in the front door of his neighbor’s home and entering while holding an axe. He walked down the hallway and began striking a bedroom door. The homeowner, Casey, recognized Brandon’s voice but didn’t realize he was in psychological distress, and yelled for him to stop.
When Brandon didn’t comply, Casey retrieved a firearm and fired a shot, hitting him in the abdomen. Brandon fell to the floor and reportedly begged for assistance. Instead of rendering aid, Casey fired multiple additional rounds. Authorities later confirmed Brandon was shot nine times altogether and was critically injured by the time officers arrived. He died while being transported to the hospital.
Three days later, Brandon’s mother filed a civil suit, stating that her son had been in the midst of a mental health crisis and had not intended to hurt anyone. She argued that he needed medical intervention rather than deadly force and accused Casey of unnecessarily escalating the encounter.
After examining evidence and expert testimony, the judge concluded that Casey’s initial shot was legally defensible, but the additional gunfire after Brandon was already down exceeded the level of force necessary to stop the threat. The court ruled that Casey’s actions constituted excessive force once Brandon was incapacitated.
Casey was found 30% responsible for Brandon’s death and ordered to pay $2 million to the White family.
The decision has fueled widespread debate over self-defense laws, mental health emergencies, and how homeowners should respond to sudden violent break-ins.
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