Lake Carolina resident will not face charges for shooting, killing suspect breaking into his vehicle

Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigators say the Lake Carolina resident who shot and killed a man he alleges was breaking into his car Tuesday morning will not face charges in the shooting.

Officials with the department said that investigators determined the shooting was in self defense, although they will continue to investigate the incident.

Sgt. Kevin Lawrence, a sheriff’s department spokesman, said deputies responded to a residence in the 200 block of Baysdale Drive, near Lake Carolina Drive, in reference to a 1 a.m. shooting.

Lawrence said when deputies arrived, the victim told them he heard a loud noise outside his home, looked out his back door and observed another man going through his vehicle.

The man told deputies he stepped outside to confront the suspect, but the suspect began striking him with an unidentified object, Lawrence said.

Lawrence said the victim was able to retrieve a handgun and shot the suspect. The suspect fled from the home but collapsed 100 yards away.

Lawrence said the suspect was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 10:11 AM with the headline "Lake Carolina resident will not face charges for shooting, killing suspect breaking into his vehicle."