‘Justifiable Homicide’ — No Charges in Case of South Carolina Student Killed Entering Wrong Home: Cops

A college student at the University of South Carolina was shot dead after apparently trying to enter the wrong house, and now authorities say it was a "justifiable homicide" and no charges will be filed against the homeowners.

Around 2 a.m. on Aug. 26, officers were called to the residence in Columbia for a reported break-in. En route, a second call came in regarding gunshots fired, The State reported.

At the scene, police found 20-year-old Nicholas Anthony Donofrio dead on the front porch of the residence with a gunshot wound to his upper body.

Donofrio, a sophomore from Connecticut, reportedly lived on the same street as the house where he was shot and killed. Police said the neighborhood was less than two miles from the main campus of the college the victim attended.

Investigators determined Donofrio “mistakenly went to the wrong home and attempted to enter by repeatedly knocking, banging, and kicking at the front door while manipulating the door handle," police officials said.

As Donofrio was attempting to get into the house, the woman called 911 and the male owner "went to another area of the home to retrieve a firearm," police said.

During that time, Donofrio managed to break the glass window of the front door and was reaching inside to "manipulate the doorknob," which is when the male owner fired a single bullet through the window, hitting the 20-year-old college student.

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In a press release, the Columbia Police Department said, "After consulting with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office regarding the circumstances of the South Holly Street fatal shooting last weekend, charges will not be filed against the homeowner.”

Officials said the shooting was a "justifiable homicide" since the homeowners were protecting their property, which is permitted under South Carolina law, and the homeowner was allowed to possess the gun, which he legally owned.

Since no charges will be filed, the identities of the homeowners will not be released, according to police.