A tragic incident occurred in South Carolina when a woman was fatally shot by a hunter who mistook her for a deer during an illegal night hunt. The woman, Lori Wind, 54, was walking her dog with her husband near the Sawmill Branch Walking Trail in Summerville when the incident happened around 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
The hunter, identified as 20-year-old Kristofer Kelle McDonald, allegedly fired three rounds from his 20-gauge shotgun, thinking the sounds of rustling leaves were deer. The shots struck the couple, killing Wind with a single bullet and critically injuring her husband, who was hit multiple times.
The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office reported the incident, with Chief Deputy Sam Richardson expressing his dismay. He emphasized that there is no justification for anyone to be reckless with a firearm, especially when it results in the loss of life.
The shooting violated South Carolina state law, which prohibits hunting more than an hour after sunset and mandates hunters to keep a minimum distance of 300 yards from residential properties.
McDonald turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday after seeing news reports about the fatal incident. According to the arrest warrant, he confessed to hunting illegally.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources charged McDonald with involuntary manslaughter, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, criminal negligent use of a firearm resulting in death, criminal negligent use of a firearm resulting in great bodily harm, and night hunting.
McDonald was detained at the Dorchester County L.C. Knight Detention Center until he posted a $400,000 bond on Thursday. He is scheduled to appear in court again in December.