The one that fatally shot a 20-year-old faculty scholar making an attempt to enter the incorrect dwelling in Columbia, South Carolina, early Saturday morning is not going to face legal costs, authorities introduced.
Police and prosecutors discovered that the capturing of Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, a College of South Carolina scholar, was “justifiable” beneath state legislation, in response to a Wednesday statement by the Columbia Police Division.
Police Chief W.H. Holbrook mentioned within the assertion that the division prolonged its “deepest condolences” to the Donofrio household for his or her “immeasurable loss.”
“It is a heartbreaking case for all concerned. Our lead investigator has diligently labored to collect all of the details surrounding this incident,” Holbrook mentioned. “He has additionally maintained contact with the Donofrio household all through the investigation.”
In line with police, Donofrio tried to enter the house by “repeatedly knocking, banging, and kicking on the entrance door whereas manipulating the door deal with” simply earlier than 2 a.m.
A feminine resident within the dwelling known as 911, whereas a male resident went into one other room to retrieve his firearm.
Police mentioned Donofrio ultimately broke by the entrance door’s glass window and reached inside to govern the doorknob, which prompted the male resident to fireside a shot by the window.
When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered Donofrio lifeless on the porch with a gunshot wound to the higher torso.
Police mentioned the capturing was a “justifiable murder” beneath the state’s Safety of Individuals and Property Act, or what is usually known as a “stand your floor” legislation. In line with the legislation, a person has the appropriate to make use of a firearm to guard themselves of their dwelling with out going through legal or civil prosecution.
“The dedication relies on a number of components to incorporate proof gathered on the scene, overview of surveillance video that captures moments earlier than the capturing, audio proof, and witness statements,” the police assertion learn.
As a result of costs weren’t filed within the capturing, “the home-owner’s identify is not going to be publicly launched,” police mentioned.
Donofrio’s mother and father, who reside in Connecticut, told New Haven outlet WTNH that their son had moved into an off-campus home. They described him as “the son each mum or dad would need for,” including that he was “humorous, sensible and compassionate.”
Donofrio was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, which began a fundraiser that has collected greater than $120,000 to assist his household begin a scholarship in his honor.
“Nick adopted in his large brother Louie’s footsteps and joined our fraternity within the Fall of 2022,” a marketing campaign organizer said on GoFundMe. “Nick was enjoyable, charismatic, energetic, and a real man of honor. Whereas his time with us was brief, he made a major distinction within the lives of all of us and everybody he knew.”
Up to now this yr, almost 29,000 individuals within the U.S. have died because of gun violence, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
