Defendant#8217;s family says it#8217;s being threatened

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 3, 2007

The Monday shooting that left one man dead and another behind bars has also left two families trying to cope with the aftermath of what happened.

Julius Sudderth, older brother of Isaiah Sudderth, said his family and that of the shooting victim, Damon Pringle, knew each other and sometimes socialized with each other. He went to school with Damon Pringle.

Julius Sudderth said members of his family have received death threats after the shooting and are concerned about their safety of family members as well as the future of Isaiah, who he says acted in self-defense when he shot Pringle.

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He said he thinks his brother has been unfairly portrayed as the aggressor in a situation he did not create.

“I don’t think he deserved what he got,” Julius Sudderth said.

Ironton police detective, Capt. Chris Bowman, said he was not aware of any Sudderth family members receiving death threats.

Pringle’s family and friends had a vigil Wednesday night at the Ninth Street Park, both to honor his memory and to grieve the damage to the community.

Pringle’s family and friends have contended the argument that led to the shooting was “over nothing” and the victim had done nothing to warrant being shot to death.