A Boater Rescued A Man In The Water — Then Shot Him. He’s Now Been Cleared Of Charges.

An unnamed 74-year-old boater, along with his wife, rescued two jet skiers in distress in Lake Keowee in South Carolina last Tuesday. But the rescue soon turned into something much worse as a man who was saved allegedly became violent after being brought onto the couple’s boat. 

In a shocking twist, the South Carolina boater shot and killed Nathan Drew Morgan, 29, after rescuing him in what authorities are now ruling an act of self-defense. 

The State reported on Monday that deputies arrived at the scene of the shooting last Tuesday afternoon, where they took the stories of those involved in the altercation. According to deputies, Morgan had fallen into the water while jet skiing along with a woman who was with him, and neither of them had life jackets on. 

The boater along with his wife rescued Morgan and his partner, but according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department, Morgan “became agitated and began assaulting the couple on the pontoon.” The woman with Morgan attempted to stop him by pushing him back into the lake, and the boaters helped him back onto the boat. 

That’s when the situation took a deadly turn, and the 74-year-old boater feared for his life. “After a second encounter, the man on the pontoon shot the man fearing for his and his wife’s life while being assaulted,” the sheriff’s department said. “The man who was shot died on the pontoon.”

Fox News reported that investigators believe Morgan and the woman with him were having an argument when they fell into the water. Sheriff Mike Crenshaw reportedly told local news that Morgan could have also been intoxicated at the time. 

“The 10th Circuit Solicitor’s Office decided not to file charges against the man who shot Morgan, ruling that it was in self defense,” Oconee County Sheriff’s Department said in a press release. 

A shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon on a pontoon boat on Lake Keowee has been ruled as a case of self-defense. 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-defense 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.

The obituary for Morgan emphasized the shocking circumstances that led to his death. He was a member of a Baptist church and lived what seems like a quiet and peaceful life. “Drew enjoyed being on the water, fishing, sitting around a campfire, and playing basketball,” the obituary reads. 

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