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.”

  • @legion02@lemmy.world
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    1210 months ago

    By all accounts he thought he was entering his own home, thought he was breaking his own windows, etc. Seems to me like a little more dialog and this kid’s still alive and a broken window is the worst part of the event. With castle doctrine laws the way they are mistakes and misunderstandings are much more likely to become fatal.

    • RoboRay
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      10 months ago

      Not being allowed to defend yourself until the intruder finishes breaking in to your home and attacks you simply means self-defense isn’t allowed, because at that point you’re probably already dead.

    • @wahming
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      510 months ago

      The homeowners were awake, and calling the cops. Sounds like the kid was drunk to the point he wasn’t engaging in conversation.

    • tider06
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      410 months ago

      Not by all accounts. Specifically not by the accounts of the people who were inside the home that was getting broken into at 2am.

      • @legion02@lemmy.world
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        110 months ago

        In none of the accounts do they mention trying to speak with him before shooting. Just call 911 and wait with gun pointed towards door.

        • tider06
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          110 months ago

          Which is what they did, until the intruder broke into the home through the window.

          • @legion02@lemmy.world
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            110 months ago

            You have a source on that? I’ve yet to see a reference to them attempting to communicate with anyone but 911.

            • tider06
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              110 months ago

              As many sources that you have that say that didn’t.