Man accused fatal shooting outside of Jeannette High School football game claims self defense

The man accused of fatally shooting another man at a Jeannette High School football game was in court today.

For the first time, we heard from the alleged shooter, and his side of the story is that he was protecting himself.

After being let out of the courthouse, Greg Harper, 40, told reporters the shooting that left Damien Williams, 48, dead was self defense to the fullest extent.

Though Harper fired the fatal shots outside of the game at McKee Stadium earlier this month, his attorney argued he was in fear of being further assaulted.

A Westmoreland County detective testified that Harper told him Williams, who was much bigger than Harper, caught him off guard with two punches to the head. Williams also continued toward him even after Harper allegedly displayed and cocked his gun as a warning.

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But Williams' family, who packed the courthouse on Wednesday wearing shirts that read, "Superman," said there was more to the local mechanic -- and he didn't deserve to die.

The judge denied a request by the defense to reduce the charge of first-degree murder to voluntary manslaughter, citing self defense.

Harper is back in the Westmoreland County Jail and is expected back in court in late November.

Cox Media Group