The immediate threat ended. The court case didn’t. A 19-year-old who shot and killed an armed attacker during a deadly confrontation at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn was not charged in the killing after prosecutors deemed his actions self-defense. He was, however, sentenced to probation for carrying his handgun concealed without a state license, according to reporting cited by the source and FOX 2 Detroit.
What officials say happened
According to information attributed to the City of Dearborn in the source material, an altercation inside the mall on July 3, 2026, escalated when 19-year-old Cameron Watkins retrieved a handgun from another person’s purse and fatally shot 19-year-old Keonte Seaborn. Authorities said Watkins continued firing inside the mall and another person was shot during a struggle, sustaining a non-life-threatening injury.
The source reports that 19-year-old Martinez Long then drew a handgun and shot Watkins, killing him and ending the threat.
Prosecutors: the shooting was justified
The source states prosecutors concluded Long’s use of force was in defense of himself and others. He was not prosecuted for killing Watkins.
Why charges followed anyway
The source reports Long was carrying his handgun concealed without a Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL) and was charged with carrying a concealed weapon. Michigan requires CPL applicants to be at least 21, which meant Long, at 19, could not have obtained a CPL. The source also notes that Michigan does not categorically prohibit a 19-year-old from possessing a handgun, but the law restricts concealed carry without a license.
Sentence and conditions
Long was sentenced to two years of probation, according to the source. FOX 2 Detroit reported that as conditions of probation he cannot possess guns or ammunition, must undergo cognitive behavioral therapy, and must take court-offered handgun safety classes. The source adds he was sentenced under Michigan’s Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA), which can allow his record to be cleared if he successfully completes probation. Long reportedly had no prior criminal record.
At sentencing, the judge acknowledged Long acted in self-defense or defense of others but questioned why he brought a gun into the mall, according to the source.
The policy debate this case is fueling
The source uses Long’s case to question permit requirements and age limits for concealed carry. It references H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025, described as a federal proposal to establish nationwide reciprocity for people who have a qualifying state permit or are entitled to carry in their home state. The source also points to Michigan State Police guidance reminding CPL holders they are responsible for complying with the laws of any state they enter.
