The homeowner who fatally shot a 20-year-old University of South Carolina student who tried to enter the wrong home on the street he lived on Saturday morning will not face charges because the incident was deemed “a justifiable homicide” under state law, Columbia police announced Wednesday.

Police said the identity of the homeowner who fired the gunshot that killed Nicholas Donofrio shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday will not be released because the police department and the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office determined his actions were justified under the state’s controversial “castle doctrine” law, which holds that people can act in self-defense towards “intruders and attackers without fear of prosecution or civil action for acting in defense of themselves and others.”

  • @crimsdings@lemmy.world
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    2810 months ago

    I am sorry but … if I am at home with my wife and kids and drunk stranger aggressively bangs and kicks the door, doesn’t stop when asked, smashes a window and reaches in to get in - I will probably also have my gun ready if the police doesn’t show up fast enough. Some people get super aggressive when drunk - some get confused and silly. There is definitely a difference.

    Not American, I live in Europe. No I am not right wing.

    • @SheeEttin@lemmy.world
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      610 months ago

      None of the articles I’ve seen have said whether the residents said anything before shooting. If they didn’t, they absolutely should have.

      • @crimsdings@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I just assumed that’s something a normal person would do after reading they also called 911 already. Might be wrong information tho.