The Columbia Police Department in South Carolina determined that the man who shot and killed a student who mistakenly entered his home late at night acted justifiably.
The incident was reported last weekend.
Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, 20, died Saturday morning after knocking, hitting and kicking the front door of the stranger’s house, located on the same street where he lived.
It is not clear what led to the boy’s confusion. The authorities carry out toxicology tests to see if the deceased was in his five senses or was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
After Donofrio broke the window glass and tried to tamper with the lock on the door on South Holly Street, the homeowner shot him. A Department statement on Wednesday indicates that the man, the legal owner of the weapon he used, was allegedly covered by a “Stand Your Ground” law.
This law establishes that citizens have the right to defend their position and fight force with force, including lethal force, if they consider that it is required to prevent being a victim of aggression or death.
The investigation of the facts revealed that, due to the Law for the Protection of Persons and Property, charges will not be filed against the resident who has not been identified.
“The determination was based on several factors including evidence collected at the scene, review of security camera video capturing the moments before the shooting, audio evidence, and witness statements,” Columbia police said in a statement.
Police Chief Skip Holbrook noted that the investigator in charge of the case worked “diligently” to reach that conclusion in the “heartbreaking” case. He added that the Department maintained communication with the student’s family at all times.
According to authorities, officers received a home invasion call shortly before 2 am Saturday. Subsequently, while they were on their way to the scene, the alert was changed to a gunshot alert. Officers found Donofrio dead in the driveway of the home.
The young man was shot in the upper body by a shot from inside the house through broken glass.
“Nick’s” funeral, as his parents nicknamed him, will take place this Saturday in Connecticut.
The sports fan was looking to graduate with an exercise science degree. Before entering the University of South Carolina, he played basketball for New England. The parents of Donofrio, who was part of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, indicated in a statement that they were very proud of him and that he was the son that every father wanted to have.
“Nick was funny, smart, compassionate, and loved life,” Louis and Dina Donofrio described in the statement cited by ABC News. “We will miss him beyond measure,” he added.