andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Mario Etheridge, accused of killing the rapper Proof in an April fight at an after-hours Detroit club, has been spared further jail time because he was acting in lawful defense of another man, authorities say.

Etheridge was sentenced on Thursday to time served for carrying a concealed weapon and a $2,000 fine for discharging a firearm inside a building.

The 28-year-old spent several days in jail at the time of the accident when he turned himself in to police and before he posted bond.

Authorities say Etheridge shot and killed Proof after the rapper fatally shot Etheridge’s cousin, Keith Bender. The dispute reportedly stemmed from a game of pool.

Prosecuters say that Etheridge had fired warning shots into the ceiling in an effort to stop Proof before shooting the rapper himself. Prosecutors say Etheridge acted lawfully in defense of Bender.

Proof was a member of the Eminem-fronted rap group D12.

Eminem is helping to raise cash for Proof’s five children by selling t-shirts and a poster honouring the late rapper.

Along with the rest of Shady Records, Eminem has set up BigProof4Ever.com to sell the wares, which feature a picture of Proof along with the words “Big Proof Forever 1973-2006.”

The shirt and poster were designed by graphic artist and Obey Giant founder Shepard Fairey. All proceeds are going to the Big Proof Foundation, which was established to benefit his kids.

Proof was killed on April 11 in Detroit. He was shot at an after-hours club by Mario Etheridge following an argument between Etheridge’s cousin, Keith Bender, and Proof. Bender was shot and killed by Proof in the incident, and a judge said in May that Etheridge was acting in his cousin’s defense.

The bouncer who shot and killed rapper Proof on April 11 acted in defense of his cousin and won’t face murder charges, said a Detroit-area prosecutor on Tuesday.

Three days after the nightclub shooting, Mario Etheridge was charged with weapons offences. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said that murder charges were still being considered.

At a Tuesday press conference, Worthy said that the evidence showed Etheridge’s actions were within the law, reports MTV. Etheridge was said to have acted in lawful defense of his cousin, Keith Bender, the man allegedly shot by Proof.

Etheridge will still face the weapons charges and is due back in court on Friday.

Police have said that Proof, the slain D12 rapper, was the first one to fire a shot Tuesday morning at a Detroit club.

Proof was shot and killed after an early morning incident at the CCC Club on Eight Mile.

However, Proof’s lawyer denied these claims.

“To indicate that Proof pulled the trigger first is reckless and quite frankly it will be proved to be untrue,” lawyer David Gorosh told the Detroit Free Press.

According to police, Proof (real name DeShaun Holton) shot the club’s bouncer, Keith Bender Jr., in the face. Another man, believed to be Bender’s cousin, who has come forward, then shot Proof four times.

Eminem, Proof’s best friend and longtime rap partner, spoke out Thursday for the first time. In a statement, he said:

“You don’t know where to begin when you lose somebody who’s been such a big part of your life for so long. Proof and I were brothers. He pushed me to become who I am. Without Proof’s guidance and encouragement there would have been a Marshall Mathers, but probably not an Eminem and certainly never a Slim Shady. Not a day will go by without his spirit and influence around us all. He will be missed as a friend, father and both the heart and ambassador of Detroit hip-hop.

“Right now, there’s a lot of people focusing on the way he died. I want to remember the way he lived. Proof was funny, he was smart, he was charming. He inspired everyone around him. He can never, ever be replaced. He was, and always will be, my best friend.”