Boater, 74, who rescued drowning man and then fatally SHOT him CLEARED of all charges!
An unidentified South Carolina boater rescued a drowning man and his girlfriend after they fell off their jet-ski, but the situation escalated and he shot the man he had previously saved. The 74-year-old boater was out for a pleasure cruise with his wife when he raced to save Nathan Drew Morgan and his girlfriend. As per reports, they had no life jackets and the jet-ski was circling.
Morgan reportedly became agitated and started assaulting the couple after they tried to rescue him and his girlfriend in Lake Keowee on Tuesday, March 15. The 29-year-old, who was a Walhalla resident, began arguing with the elderly boater, so his girlfriend pushed him back into the lake in hopes of defusing the situation. As per reports, the couple helped him get out of the water again, but Morgan remained hostile, and the elderly man shot him as he feared for his and his wife's lives.
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Morgan died on the pontoon boat due to the gunshot wound to his chest, as per the Oconee County Coroner's Office. Solicitor David Wagner told Upstate Today that his office will not file charges against the man who shot Morgan and said, "It was a clear self-defense case." Sheriff Mike Crenshaw told the newspaper that Morgan may have been intoxicated.
"Nathan Drew Morgan, 29, of Walhalla, SC, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. A native of Asheville, NC, Drew was the son of Blane Morgan and the late Pamela Annette Davis. He was a member of Flat Shoals Baptist Church. Drew enjoyed being on the water, fishing, sitting around a campfire, and playing basketball. In addition to his father, Drew is survived by a son: Bentley Mason Morgan. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be made to Flat Shoals Baptist Church, 656 Flat Shoals Road, Walhalla, SC 29691. The family is at their respective homes," read the obituary for Morgan.
"Drew Morgan you were a light in my life that continued to shine no matter how far we were apart. I just talked to you not to long ago and you begged me to go to cherokee with you and i couldn’t because i had so much going on a priorities i needed to take care of . You have always been a pick me up when i felt down at my lowest you would always remind me “ your a bad bish” i will never forget the memories we share and i will forever cherish them and you in my heart . I cant fully wrap my head around this and i never fully want to . I hope you shine your light down on all of us who love and miss you and especially bentley hes going to need it the most . You are gone but never forgotten . Your soul lives on and i know i will see you again one day and ill make sure to whoop your a$$ in beer pong when i get there ! Love you drew ! [broken heart emoji] [blue heart emoji] [sad face emoji] [crying face emoji]," read a post by Kelcie Bratton on Facebook.
"And if anyone who knew drew knows this is absolute BS. He wouldn't hurt or attack anyone unless HE FELT THREATENED! he would never harm anyone who would try to help him in a situation and i know this first hand. He was a big teddy bear inside but if you harmed anyone he loved or crossed a certain line and stepped at him first he would have finished it off . Hes not here to defend himself and the ones involved seem like they are not telling the whole truth behind this !!! [x3 angry emojis]," she further posted. "SO GO AHEAD OCONEE AND RELEASE THE NAMES OF THESE SO CALLED "VICTIMS" THAT GET AWAY WITH MURDER!!!! I HOPE THEY RUN IN FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY!!! [x3 angry emojis]," Bratton added.
Kesslin Cole, another friend of Morgan, posted, "This literally breaks my heart!!! I just don't see how ANYONE could 'fear for their life' being taken by Drew. Drew was the light of MANY lives!!! For one, the eye witness never mentioned anyone being pulled out the water twice. According to this article the female that was with him pushed him off the boat to stop him from fighting with the other people. She must've been a strong girl to have pushed Drew....who was supposedly angry ...off the boat. I just don't see it. Drew was no little dude. Two, I'd hate to think they were struggling to swim. We all know Drew can swim. Third, why would drew get agitated with someone who supposedly 'rescued him'!!!??? He wouldn't!!!! And then argue for almost 30 minutes!!???? Yeah Drew would argue with you for hours especially if he was right!!! But not over "helping him"!!!! my question is what was the argument about? Bc it wasn't over 'rescuing him'!!! Sounds like some straight.... excuse my language.... bullshit!!!! How did Drew end up in the water in the first place? Maybe the couple on the boat were the reason. And that's why Drew was upset. The article says that investigators were told that Drew could've been agitated because he wanted to get back to the jet ski.....ah ya think!!?? What was preventing him from getting there?? And why would someone push him off the boat just to pull him back on the boat again?? & Then shoot and kill him!!!???? Why would they get him back on the boat again if they were SO scared of him!!!??? I ain't buying it!!! I pray the truth comes out and that it makes more sense than THIS!!!!!"
After the police revealed that they wouldn't be pressing charges on the elderly man, stating that it was 'self-defense', Cole posted, "Just when I thought our judicial system couldn't get any worse!!! They prove me wrong yet again. This Amazing man had a son who lost his Best friend & Drew's parents will never see their son again!!!! Many people throughout the community lost a very special friend. & This is all we get!!!!??? You call this JUSTICE!!!??? This is far from that!!! IF THE MURDERERS TRULY FEARED FOR THEIR LIVES they should've left Drew in the water after he was pushed back in. To pull him back on their boat a SECOND TIME clearly shows they didn't fear for their lives as much as they claim. This is MURDER!!!! & I pray this is not something that those who loved him settle for, but instead fight for the Justice HE TRULY DESERVES!!! Just a few months back a son was defending his mother and shot an armed man in self defense, but could possibly still be charged with murder!!!!! & Now you're basically saying an armed stranger can pull an unarmed someone "in distress" on their boat. Argue with the helpless person for almost 30 minutes. Push him back into the water only to pull him back on again & then MURDER him and it be called SELF DEFENSE!!!!!????? How backwards is this twisted CRAP!!!!"
Brandon Thomas, who lives nearby, told WSPA, "That's very surprising, especially the area it was in. Not too familiar with that area but I'm surprised to hear there was a shooting out here at all. That's crazy. Definitely unexpected out here for sure."
Investigators state that there may have been an argument between Morgan and his unidentified girlfriend before they fell off the jet-ski into the water. Apart from the girlfriend, the elderly couple has also remained unidentified.