A hunter killed a woman while she and her husband were walking their dog at night because he thought she was a deer.
At about 8:15 p.m. on October 29, Kristofer Kelle McDonald, 20, was out on a night hunt near the Sawmill Branch walking trail in Summerville, South Carolina. This is according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Lori Wind, 54, and her husband were walking their dog along the trail at the same time.
A warrant for McDonald’s arrest that WYMT saw says he thought the sounds of leaves crunching and branches snapping were gunshots and fired three to four rounds from a 20-gauge shotgun at the walkers.
The police say that Wind and her husband were both shot.
On the scene, Wind was pronounced dead, and her husband was taken to the hospital in a condition that could kill him.
Last week, Chief Deputy Sam Richardson of the Dorchester Sheriff’s Office told the press that police had received a tip that McDonald was the shooter.
The next day, McDonald turned himself in to police. Since then, he has been “somewhat cooperative,” according to Richardson.
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 were some of the charges against him.
WYMT reported that he was taken to the L.C. Knight Detention Center and given a $400,000 bond on Thursday. His boss has told him not to do any hunting activities.
“There’s no reason for anyone to be careless with a gun, and maybe someone paid with their life.” He said, “There’s just no reason for that.”
