A Brookhaven man accused of aggravated assault in the shootingof his former girlfriend was released on bond Tuesday and claimedthe incident was a case of self defense.

Ryan Christopher Newton, 23, of 327 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Drive, was freed on a $50,000 bond following an initial appearanceTuesday in Brookhaven Municipal Court. He had been arrestedfollowing a Monday evening altercation with Shuntay Butler, 26, atBrooks Apartments on Old Wesson Road.

Newton and his mother, Rose, who was not at the scene, disputedaccounts of the incident as reported Tuesday. They said Ryan Newtonhad gone to Brooks Apartments to take a friend to his girlfriend’shome when Butler came outside and struck him with a baseballbat.

“She hit me in the back twice,” Ryan Newton said as he stoodoutside the Police Department following his release. “I turnedaround and started shooting.”

Police Chief Pap Henderson said Tuesday Butler was shot twice,once in the left side and once in the left arm. He said she was instable condition at the University of Mississippi Medical Center inJackson when investigators contacted her later Tuesday.

When contacted in response to the Newtons’ claims, Hendersonmaintained the version of events as initially reported.

“I’m not changing anything, and I’m not trying it in thenewspaper,” Henderson said.

According to the department’s investigation, Newton and friendshad gone to Butler’s home and were told to leave. Acknowledgingthat Butler had a baseball bat, the chief said a shoving matchensued and the shooting followed that exchange.