Mom says son gave his life to save hers

The final sacrifice was an example of his loving nature, she said.
By AMANDA GARRETT
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CHAMPION -- Richard Brandon Fluet was a loving son during his life, and a hero at his death, his mother said.
Fluet, 21, of 5325 Alva Ave., died early Tuesday after he was shot in the face by his mother's boyfriend during a domestic dispute.
Michelle Dye said Friday that she wants people to know her son was not in a dispute with John A. Lichty -- but that Fluet died protecting her.
"Brandon died trying to save my life," she said.
Champion Police are investigating; no charges have yet been filed as a result of the shooting.
Mother's account
Dye explained that she and Lichty were arguing at about 1 a.m. Tuesday when the dispute turned violent.
"He said he had two bullets in his gun and one was for me," she continued.
Lichty then ran outside. Fluet followed him in an attempt to intervene on his mother's behalf, Dye said.
"I heard a gunshot and went outside" to see what had happened, she said. Her son was shot.
The Champion Police Department did not return phone calls Friday to confirm Dye's story. Police have said they found Fluet and Lichty after responding to a shots-fired call in the vicinity of Alva and High Street.
Lichty had shot himself. He was discharged from St. Elizabeth Health Center on Wednesday.
Dye said Brandon's final sacrifice was an example of his loving nature.
"Brandon was more concerned if you were hurting," she said.
"He always sacrificed for others, and never thought about himself. In my eyes, he's a hero," she added, tearfully. "He died my hero."
agarrett@vindy.com