"Shooting at party ruled self-defense"

A Tennessee man who shot two men at a graduation party early Sunday morning was justified, prosecutors determined Thursday.

"It appears to be bona fide self-defense," Jackson County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer said.

Although John Bartel, 51, will not be charged in the shooting, he faces a charge of illegally carrying a concealed weapon.

"If he would have had a concealed weapons permit from Tennessee, we would have honored it," Blumer said. The .45-caliber handgun was not licensed, he said.

Leoni Township police said there was a fight at a graduation party for Michigan Center graduate Brandon Bartel at 440 S. Sutton Road.

A young man was asked to leave, and he returned with friends to start the fight that led to the shooting, officials said.

John Bartel suffered multiple fractures to his jaw, but it is unclear if he was struck with a fist or an object, Blumer said. Bartel fired his gun, striking two men, ages 22 and 24. . . .