Teen won’t be charged for shooting, killing trespasser in Lancaster County: Sheriff
LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A teenage boy won’t be charged after shooting and killing a trespasser who charged at him with a knife, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 6:40 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, deputies responded to a shooting in the 1600 block of Hillcrest Avenue.
When they arrived, a 29-year-old Hispanic man was on the ground with gunshot wounds next to a green 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche. Medical personnel arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene.
A 31-year-old black man and a 14-year-old boy were also near the truck. The man owns the Avalanche and is a friend of the boy, his brother and their mom who live in the house where the incident happened, officials said.
The boy told deputies he was the one who shot the Hispanic man and he was taken to the sheriff’s office for further questioning. The other witnesses also spoke with authorities.
Investigators learned the Hispanic man lived behind the juvenile’s house and had come onto the property that day several times uninvited. On the final time, he assaulted the boy’s brother, who is also a minor, deputies said.
The Hispanic man then pulled out a knife and ran at the boy who then jumped into the truck and tried to shut and lock the door while the Hispanic man tried to get in. The boy said he grabbed a pistol that was in the truck and fired it at the man.
Crime scene investigators found the knife, which was still in the man’s hand as he lay on the ground, and the pistol, which was made safe by the older man and left on the back of the truck.
A prosecutor with the Sixth Circuit Solicitor’s Office responded to the scene and worked with investigators. It was determined that the 14-year-old boy would not be charged in connection with the shooting at this time, and was released to the custody of his mother.
“Based upon what we know from the investigation up to this point, the shooting was justified. The investigation is continuing, and we are following up on additional information,” Sheriff Barry Faile said.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office at 803-283-3388 and select Option 4.
