A man in Texas has been convicted of murdering a local police officer in a case that raised questions about the use of no-knock raids and the right to self-defense. Marvin Guy, who spent over nine years in jail awaiting trial, was found guilty of killing Detective Charles Dinwiddie. Guy claimed that he mistook Dinwiddie for an intruder after a SWAT team smashed his bedroom window and attempted to enter his home during a drug raid at 5:45 a.m. in 2014. The jury chose to convict Guy of murder instead of capital murder, indicating that they did not unanimously believe he knew he was shooting at law enforcement.
The raid was authorized by a no-knock warrant, which allowed the police to enter Guy’s apartment without identifying themselves first. The warrant was obtained based on a tip that Guy was involved in cocaine dealing. On the morning of May 9, 2014, around twenty-four officers arrived at Guy’s residence. They encountered difficulties breaking through the door with a battering ram as it was blocked from behind. In the midst of the chaotic raid, one officer accidentally detonated a stun grenade, further escalating the situation.
Living in a high-crime area, Guy claimed that he woke up and mistakenly believed the police were criminals attempting to break into his home. He had previously been on edge due to a similar incident involving one of his neighbors. According to Guy, an intruder had entered her home through a first-floor window and assaulted her. In response to the perceived threat, Guy allegedly struck four officers, resulting in Dinwiddie’s death. The police then fired over 40 rounds in return.
The prosecution, however, argued that Guy had advance knowledge of the raid and deliberately set a trap to ambush the officers. Guy’s defense attorney, Jon Evans, countered this by suggesting that Guy was simply panicked and scared, mistaking the raid for a break-in. Key to the defense’s case was the fact that the raid was conducted without warning and in the early hours, leaving the target disoriented. A government witness testified that it was department policy to shine a light into the home during no-knock raids, allowing the police to see inside while preventing the subject from seeing out.
The prosecution concluded their case with testimony from Dinwiddie’s widow, Holly, who delivered a victim impact statement. The defense rested after calling one witness, retired Killeen Police Department Commander Scott Meads, who identified tactical errors and concerns regarding the raid, including officer confusion over the apartment’s layout.
Texas has the Castle Doctrine, which permits individuals to use lethal force to defend themselves in their own homes if they perceive a deadly threat. However, this protection does not apply if the person is engaged in illegal activity. Although Guy was not charged with a drug crime, law enforcement allegedly discovered traces of white powder in his apartment, car, and trash.
Guy’s case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding no-knock raids and the right to self-defense. Another notable case is that of Breonna Taylor, who was killed during a similar raid in 2020. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired a shot at the police, believing them to be intruders. Charges against Walker were eventually dismissed. However, unlike Taylor’s case, Guy’s trial did not gain widespread attention.
Guy, who faced numerous delays in his trial due to his health, the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in defense attorneys, and disputes with the District Attorney’s office over evidence, will learn his fate at his upcoming sentencing. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty but dropped it last year to expedite the lengthy pretrial process.
The original article can be found on Reason.com.
