Authorities in Columbia, South Carolina have announced that the person who fatally shot 20-year-old college student Nicholas Anthony Donofrio will not face criminal charges. The shooting, which occurred early Saturday morning, was deemed “justifiable” under state law, according to a statement by the Columbia Police Department.
Police Chief W.H. Holbrook expressed condolences to the Donofrio family and acknowledged the heartbreaking nature of the case. The investigation found that Donofrio had attempted to enter the wrong home by knocking, banging, and kicking at the front door. A male resident retrieved his firearm after a female resident called 911. Donofrio eventually broke through the front door’s glass window and reached inside to manipulate the doorknob, prompting the male resident to fire a shot through the window.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Donofrio dead on the porch with a gunshot wound to the upper torso. The shooting was determined to be a “justifiable homicide” under the state’s Protection of Persons and Property Act, commonly known as a “stand your ground” law. This law grants individuals the right to use a firearm to protect themselves in their home without facing criminal or civil prosecution.
Due to the absence of charges, the homeowner’s name will not be publicly released, as stated by the police. Donofrio’s parents, who reside in Connecticut, described their son as a compassionate, smart, and funny individual. Donofrio was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, which has initiated a fundraiser to establish a scholarship in his honor, raising over $120,000.
Author: Ryan Scott
Just a guy