Demetrius Montgomery Claims Self-Defense in Inmate Murder Trial

Demetrius Montgomery, a 47-year-old inmate at the Alger Correctional Facility, took the witness stand in Alger County Circuit Court on Wednesday to testify that he killed a fellow inmate in self-defense. Montgomery faces charges of second-degree murder following a fatal physical altercation on June 18, 2024, but he told the court he acted out of terror after being repeatedly harassed and intimidated by the victim, Drequan Glover.

A history of cell-block tension

Montgomery testified that his relationship with Glover was defined by stress and aggression. According to Montgomery, Glover forced him to store contraband on his side of their shared cell, creating a precarious situation where Montgomery was burdened with the risk of possessing prohibited items. The tension peaked after Montgomery eventually moved to a different cell, a move that he claims left Glover angry.

The conflict culminated on June 18, 2024, when Montgomery says Glover followed him into his new living space. The witness described a claustrophobic and violent confrontation where he felt trapped.

“I’m trying to get out the door,” Montgomery testified. “He would not let me out; he’d come in, grab me. He [kept] trying to choke me; keep reaching like he got his little knife or whatever… Please get out of my cell, Jug. Stop. Go, man. Quit. Leave me alone.”

Montgomery told the court he was terrified and felt he had no other option but to fight back. When questioned by the defense about why he continued to punch Glover after the man had been knocked to the ground, Montgomery explained that he was operating under a state of panic. He testified that he believed Glover was still trying to grab him and that he kept punching in the hope that correctional officers would intervene and taze both of them to end the fight.

Contradictions in the misconduct reports

The prosecution’s cross-examination focused on the “ultimate disrespect” of entering another inmate’s cell—a social code Montgomery himself acknowledged during his testimony. The prosecution suggested that this perceived disrespect, combined with a day of being “tried” by Glover, provided a motive for the violence.

A critical point of contention emerged when the prosecution read from a misconduct hearing report filed after the incident. In that report, Montgomery allegedly stated that Glover tried to take the TV, that he blocked the door, and that he hit Glover back after being hit first. On the stand, Montgomery denied the claim that he blocked the door, insisting instead that it was Glover who blocked the exit.

Montgomery admitted he told investigators that Glover tried to take the TV, but he argued that the written report does not capture the full scope of his statements during the hearing. He maintained that he is being honest now, noting that the events have left him unable to sleep and deeply upset.

Witness testimony is scheduled to continue on Thursday as the court weighs the credibility of Montgomery’s courtroom testimony against the official misconduct reports generated by the Michigan Department of Corrections.