Man arrested in Surprise party shooting says he defended himself, doctors say

SURPRISE, AZ (AZFamily) — Police say a suspect claimed self-defense after shooting a victim multiple times during a fight at a party in Surprise earlier this week.

On Tuesday, shortly after 10 p.m., Daniel Majok, 18, and some friends went to a house party near 168th Avenue and Jenan Drive, just off Loop 303 and Cactus Road.

According to court documents, Majok and another friend were not supposed to be at the party and were asked to leave. However, a fight broke out between a group in the backyard. During the fight, Majok allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband and shot the 18-year-old victim multiple times, including once in the head.

After the shooting, Majok and his friend drove away in a Dodge Charger.

Court documents indicate the victim is currently on life support at a Valley hospital.

A witness reportedly told police he received a call from Majok, who allegedly said, “They attacked my buddy, so I wasn’t going to stop myself from shooting.” Once Majok realized police were on the scene, he hung up but called back, saying he saw the victim reaching for something, “so I had to shoot,” according to court documents.

Police caught Majok about three miles from the crime scene and took him into custody. Authorities reportedly found a gun in his waistband, an empty 30-round magazine and loose ammunition.

In an interview with police, Majok admitted that he went to the party with two friends and jumped the fence to get in. However, when they walked to the back door, some residents told them they were not allowed to be there, police said.

According to authorities, an argument broke out between Majok's friend and another man, which led to a fight involving a group of people. Majok told police he saw the victim pull a gun from his waistband during the fight, which is when he pulled out his gun and pulled the trigger. Court documents state he shot the victim four times.

Majok claimed he fired in self-defense and had to flee. When authorities searched his home, they found he had tried to break his Glock and switchblade.

Authorities say it is illegal to own a Glock switch, which makes the weapon automatic.

However, police say Majok changed his statement after new evidence came to light. Police say the evidence showed that while the victim was armed at the time of the shooting, he never drew his weapon. Authorities say the victim's gun was strapped to his waistband and had been damaged by the gunfire.

After learning the new information, Majok admitted that the victim did not have a gun in his hand at the time of the shooting. He also said he “could have just fired in the air,” according to court documents.

Majok was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of possession of a prohibited weapon and one count of discharging a firearm within city limits.

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