Fireworks in Court of Detroit Porch Shooting Trial as Defendant is Cross Examined

It was an explosive day of testimony at the trial of the man accused of killing a young woman on his front porch. He says he acted in self-defense because he feared for his life. INSIDE EDITION reports.

Fireworks were at the murder trial of a homeowner who is charged with shooting a 19-year-old woman as she stood on his porch at 4:30 in the morning.

Fifty-five-year-old Theodore Wafer underwent withering cross-examination Tuesday in Detroit.

Wafer said in court to the prosecutor, “Just a figure.”

The prosecutor responded, “It was a person though, wasn't it sir?!”

Wafer replied, “Yes, it was a person but I didn't know what gender, even what origin, what race this person was.”

The prosecutor held the shotgun Wafer used to shoot Renisha McBride with a single blast to the face last November, saying, "She just stood there and let you shoot her."

Wafter replied, "There was no standing, it all happened so quick."

Wafer says he was acting in self defense when he was awakened by McBride banging loudly on his door. Autopsy results show she was drunk and had been smoking pot.

The prosecutor said, "What was it about Renisha McBride that made you be so afraid when she was on your porch?"

Wafer replied, “This was violent, this was violent banging. This was unbelievable. I never heard anything like this.”

HLN's Nancy Grace told INSIDE EDITION, "He didn't have to open his door. It wasn't kill or be killed. He opened his door to whom ever was knocking, that was his decision. That, in my mind belies a self-defense argument."

McBride’s family and friends wept as the homeowner’s 911 call was played in court.  

On the 911 call, Wafer said, “Uh yes..I just shot somebody on my front porch, with a shotgun, banging on my door.”

The prosecutor showed video of Wafer being interviewed by police right after the shooting.    

The prosecutor asked, “You were mad and you wanted to handle this thing yourself, isn't that true?”

“No, it's not,” said Wafer.  

This was Wafer's second day on the stand. On Monday, he tearfully told the jury he grabbed his shotgun because he believed someone was breaking into his home in the middle of the night.

Wafer said, “I wasn't going to cower in my house. I didn't want to be a victim.”  

Wafer says he was shocked when he realized he'd fatally shot 19-year-old McBride simply for knocking on his door.

“This poor girl, she had her whole life in front of her. I took that from her,” said Wafer.

Wafer faces up to life in prison should he be convicted of second degree murder.