The S.C. Department of Natural Resources filed charges against Christopher Merck in connection to a hunting accident Nov. 1 in Abbeville County that resulted in the death of Bradford Phillip Todd.
DNR charged Merck, 53, with one count of criminal negligent use of firearms, death results, according to DNR Capt. Robert McCollough.
The men did not know each other, McCollough said.
At the time, Abbeville County Coroner Ronnie Ashley ruled the death accidental.
One of the hunters was sitting in a tree stand, fired a shot and struck the victim, who was on the ground, McCullough reported earlier.
McCollough noted the bullet, which struck the victim in the back, was fired from a .300-caliber Winchester Magnum hunting rifle.
You know what happens next, right? The lawyers plea bargain it down to a mere slap on the wrist. Next year he'll be out there shooting wildly in the woods again.
