Man faces weapons charge after shooting during game of pool

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Richland County deputies say a man who shot a 49-year-old man during a game of pool faces a weapons charge as investigators try to determine whether the shooting was in self-defense,

Sheriff Leon Lott said in a news release that 24-year-old Paul Watkins was shooting pool at a barber shop Thursday morning when he started fighting with his opponent.

Deputies say Watkins told them he was hit with a pool cue, then pulled out a gun and shot the other man to death.

The sheriff says Watkins is cooperating with deputies, but couldn’t legally carry a gun.

The coroner’s office identified the dead man as Willie Manning Jr.

Lott says the investigation into whether the shooting was justified continues.

It wasn’t known if Watkins had a lawyer.