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.”

  • SwingingTheLamp
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    74
    arrow-down
    29
    ·
    1 year ago

    Goddamn, the United States really is a shithole country, isn’t it? It’s obvious that shooting was the homeowner’s first resort, because this was a drunk guy who thought that it was his own house. Any sign that it was not, like lights going on, or yelling, would have at least made him pause in confusion.

    But yeah, Americans be like killing somebody before even issuing a threat is totally justified.

    • nelly_man@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      49
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      From the article, it’s clear that their first resort was to call the police when he was banging and kicking on the door. The woman was on the phone with the police when he broke the window and attempted to open the door through the broken pane.

      While the woman was on the phone with police, Donofrio broke a glass window on the front door “and reached inside to manipulate the doorknob,” at which point the male resident fired the shot through the broken window, striking Donofrio in his upper body, police said.

    • GentlemanLoser@ttrpg.network
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      40
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      Drunk guy who broke the window trying to get in. Maybe it wasn’t clear this person was probably harmless and they panicked. Not sure why the people asleep in their home world be expected to flash the lights or whatever you are thinking is a normal middle of the night response to someone breaking into your home.

      IDK, I don’t like guns for this exact reason. Too easy to end a life out of panic. But the drunk has the bulk of the responsibility here IMO.

    • crimsdings@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      38
      arrow-down
      11
      ·
      1 year 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
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        7
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year 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
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

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

      • naeap@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        11
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        Yeah, because drunk, unarmed people are such a threat, that you have to just shoot him.

        As if in every other country we don’t have drunks…

        Especially drunk people are mostly no threat. Even my grandma always said “oh, a drunk man has no strength”

        It kinda sounds hyped up and hysterical from the outside, to be honest

        Edit: ah, missed that you aren’t from the US. but still, you would shoot a drunk guy, just because you feel threatened?
        There are so many possibilities to defend yourself, I can’t see a gun to be necessary - or even justified

        • crimsdings@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          As explained - there ar silly drunks and very aggressive drunks. The chance of this happening here is absolutely non existent and very theoretical. But yes if a very aggressive drunk is forcing his way into my home and not reacting to warnings and I determine him to be a threat to me or my family I totally would shoot him to protect my family - no question. Armed or not - - if he poses a threat the idea is not to be on the same level as him and fight fair …

          If it’s just a silly non threatening drunk we can’t even see straight and poses no threat obviously not. This situation is not as easy as my fellow Europeans make it out to be - guess it’s just easier to flame the US.

        • Stumblinbear@pawb.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          you would shoot a drunk guy, just because you feel threatened?

          ftfu

          How am I supposed to know if someone is drunk or not?

      • Kofu@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        9
        ·
        1 year ago

        You clearly are an idiot. I mean like you have zero understanding of anything other than cyberpunk paid expansions. You are a hate filled individual and you have only been here for 3 weeks? My lord are you alone? scared about who and what you are? A big sad fat turd?