SCDNR: Johnsonville black bear shooter won't be charged
by Tonya Brown

A 45-year-old who shot a 300 pound black bear that was roaming around in the City of Johnsonville in October won't be charged, according to Capt. Ben Byers with S.C. Department of Natural Resources. (Photo by Whitney Smith)

A 45-year-old who shot a 300 pound black bear that was roaming around in the City of Johnsonville in October won't be charged, according to Capt. Ben Byers with S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
Byers said there's isn't enough probable cause at this time to charge him with a crime.

Byers said DNR had no other choice but to euthanize the bear when it was found wounded in the woods.
The bear’s remains were properly disposed of after he was euthanized, Byers added.
Byers said he conducted a "very extensive and thorough investigation" with multiple interviews.

Byers said originally said if the bear was aggressive toward the man who shot it, then the shooting could be deemed justified and the man might not be charged.

Byers said about 100 people gathered at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Maple Street in Johnsonville on Oct. 23 to see the bear.
At the time, DNR officers were trying to get the bear to go back in the woods, Byers said.

He added officers saw the bear bleeding as it ran across the street and back into the woods and knew it was more than just a cut or a scrape because the amount of blood.

He said at the time it was near dark and not safe for DNR officers to chase the wounded bear into the woods.

Officers went back in the woods the next morning. Byers said that's when they realized the bear had been shot and had to be euthanized.

Many people in the community took pictures of the bear and some said it didn't appear to be aggressive.

Community members told ABC 15 News they are upset the bear had to be euthanized.

Byers said they could revisit the investigation if new information is presented to them.

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