South Carolina officials say a man who shot a teen who accidentally entered the wrong home early Saturday morning was justified in the shooting.
According to the New Haven Register, the Columbia Police Department consulted with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office before a decision was made. Since no charges will be filed, the homeowner’s name will not be announced.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police were called to the home for a reported break-in, followed by another call about gunshots being fired. When officers arrived, they found 20-year-old Nicholas Anthony Donofrio dead on the front porch of a residence. He had a gunshot wound to his upper body.
The sophomore from Donofrio, Connecticut, is said to have lived on the same street as the house where he was shot in a neighborhood less than two miles from the University of South Carolina’s main campus.
“Preliminary information indicates that Donofrio who resided on South Holly Street attempted to enter the wrong home when he was fatally shot,” a press release from the Columbia Police Department stated.
Investigators said they later determined that Donofrio was “repeatedly knocking, banging and kicking … while manipulating the door handle,” before the shooting.
A male homeowner inside the residence subsequently retrieved a gun and fired a single shot. Investigators said that the homeowner “was not prohibited from possessing a firearm and he legally owned the firearm for the purpose of personal and home protection.”
The decision not to file charges against the shooter was based on the state’s Protection of Persons and Property Act.
“This is a heartbreaking case for all involved,” Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said Wednesday.
“Our lead investigator has diligently worked to gather all the facts surrounding this incident. He has also maintained contact with the Donofrio family throughout the investigation. We at the Columbia Police Department extend our deepest condolences for their immeasurable loss.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode below.
[Feature Photo: Nicholas Donofrio/New England Athletics]
