Michael Hamilton, 45, was fatally shot inside his Wichita home in the 3800 block of South Meridian Avenue on December 2, 2016. Responding officers’ initial impression of a private-residence shooting was later recast as a marijuana transaction that erupted into a violent confrontation. Hamilton was found critically wounded after several gunshots; he was taken to a hospital and died of his injuries.

Court testimony and evidence say James Welborn arranged for Hamilton to buy four ounces of marijuana from Keeshaun W. Milo for $825. Milo arrived with Welborn, allegedly carrying several bags of marijuana. According to testimony, the sale deteriorated after Hamilton offered $325 in cash and a $500 Walmart gift card; a struggle occurred in which Hamilton displayed a .32-caliber Mauser pistol that investigators later found had a double-feed malfunction and produced no spent .32-caliber casings from the scene. Milo reportedly produced a black semiautomatic handgun and opened fire. Physical evidence linked Milo to the struggle and to Hamilton’s blood, and Welborn identified Milo to police.

Welborn and Milo were charged with felony murder on December 6, 2016, based on an underlying marijuana-distribution felony. Milo’s defense asserted self-defense and disputed aspects of Welborn’s testimony.