A man who fatally shot another drowning man he was trying to save in South Carolina will not face criminal charges in the bizarre case, authorities say.
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Prosecutors said the unidentified shooter acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Nathan Drew Morgan, 29, who was drowning in Lake Keowee on Tuesday, the New York Post reported.
Police say Nathan Drew Morgan and his friend fell off their jet ski without a life jacket and the rescuer tried to help by pointing a pontoon towards them.
But Morgan became combative as he returned to safety, forcing the would-be shooter to push him back into the water. The man then opened fire when Morgan got back on board.
Morgan was fatally shot in the chest, according to the Oconee County Coroner’s Office.
“I’ve certainly never seen or heard of anything like that,” local resident Brandon Thomas said after the incident.
“It’s very surprising, especially in the area where he was,” he added. “It’s crazy. It’s really unexpected here, that’s for sure.