A man accused of fatally shooting a salon employee in Springfield is no longer charged with first-degree murder.
Officials say the charge against Kenneth Santana-Rodriguez has been downgraded to manslaughter after investigators determined he fired gunshots in self-defense.
Authorities said a man entered Touch of Beauty Hair and Nail Salon in January 2023 and threatened Santana-Rodriguez with a firearm, at which point he pulled his own gun and shot twice.
However, the only person struck was 33-year-old employee Michael Tran, an innocent bystander.
(Photo: John Baibak, WHYN News)