BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - Charges have been dismissed against a Bradenton man accused of starting a gunfight that wounded his girlfriend and himself during a domestic dispute,

Manatee County Court Judge Frederick Mercurio accepted Kevin Armstrong’s “Stand Your Ground” defense Monday and will dismiss the charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Mercurio ruled that Armstrong’s fear of harm was well-founded, even if his actions were not the wisest. “The better practice would have been for you to call the police, stay in your house and not go out there with a gun,” Mercurio said.

“My legal conclusion is that Mr. Armstrong was reasonably believing that be needed to use or threatened to use force in order to prevent is imminent death or his great bodily harm.”

Armstrong’s attorney,

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