A jet skier who fell into a lake has been shot dead by the boater who saved him, in what police have called an act of self-defence.
Nathan Drew Morgan, 29, was at Lake Keowee in South Carolina with a female companion on Tuesday March 15.
According to the Oconee County Sheriff's department, an elderly couple on a pontoon boat noticed that Morgan and the unnamed woman were in distress in the water after falling off their jet ski without life jackets.
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As the jet ski continued to circle the lake, the couple drove their boat over to rescue them, only for Morgan to become agitated.
A statement from officers said Morgan started to assault the couple, with information provided to investigators suggesting he’d wanted to get back on his jet ski.
The 29-year-old’s partner then attempted to deescalate the situation by pushing him back into the water, leading to the couple then having to pull Morgan back onto their boat for a second time.
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“After a second encounter, the man on the pontoon shot the man fearing for his and his wife’s life while being assaulted,” said the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. "The man who was shot died on the pontoon.”
Cops arrived at the scene just after 2.15pm that day after being told a shooting had occurred, with an autopsy report later confirming Morgan had died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Investigators confirmed that all of those involved in the incident were cooperating with police, and their identities had been concealed as the investigation continued.
In a recent update, a court ruled that the case was an act of self-defence, and therefore the shooter would not face charges.
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A police report published last Friday said: “Investigators met the 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office yesterday to present the evidence and information obtained in the case. Based upon evidence that was presented, 10th Circuit Solicitor David Wagner has determined that the shooting was in self-defence and no charges will be filed.
“According to Investigators, all parties have been notified of the decision not to file charges in the case. The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is asking for continued prayer for the family of Nathan Drew Morgan, who is the deceased as a result of the shooting.”
Tributes continue to pour in for Morgan, who is survived by his only son. His childhood friend Dillon Queen wrote: “If you knew Drew you would know one thing, and that is he was hard headed. He would argue with you about anything and everything if he thought he was right about it and if something was done a certain way he would argue it was wrong and that it should be done this way. I wouldn’t trade him for anything different though.
“Yesterday was such a shock. I’ve had so many mixed emotions about all this. I’ve been sad to mad to crying to laughing about old times. It is just so hard to realize he isn’t here anymore... Idk what happened on that boat yesterday but what I do know is my hard headed fearless loving brother is gone.”
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Lake Keowee, a man-made reservoir, has a long history of deaths since it was created more than 50 years ago.
South Carolina, meanwhile, has some of the weakest gun laws in the country, and is subsequently the seventh-deadliest American state for gun homicide.
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Topics: US News
