Hunter mistakes couple for deer and fatally shoots woman, South Carolina cops say

A hunter thought he was shooting at a deer when he heard rustling in the woods, but he wound up killing a woman walking her dog, South Carolina authorities said.

Kristofer McDonald, 20, turned himself in after he saw the incident on the news the next morning, according to an arrest warrant from the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office.

He’s now charged 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, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

The evening of Oct. 29, McDonald was “illegally hunting for deer during the nighttime” on Sawmill Branch Canal Trail in Summerville, deputies said.

Meanwhile, Lori Wind and her husband were walking their dog nearby, WCSC and WCBD reported.

McDonald heard leaves and branches rustling near the canal and fired three or four rounds from his 20-gauge shotgun, thinking he was shooting at a deer, he told deputies, according to the warrant.

He struck Wind, killing her, while her husband was shot multiple times and hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, deputies said.

The shooting happened at about 8:15 p.m., deputies said. It’s illegal to hunt for deer more than an hour after sunset, according to the state regulations.

Dorchester County is about a 50-mile drive northwest from Charleston.

This story was originally published November 1, 2024 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Hunter mistakes couple for deer and fatally shoots woman, South Carolina cops say."