Sheriff: No charges in fatal Spartanburg shootings

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Spartanburg County authorities say they will not charge a convicted felon who shot and killed two men he said were trying to rob his apartment.

Sheriff Chuck Wright said Tuesday he made that decision after consulting local prosecutors about Douglas Williams.

Williams told authorities he shot 22-year-old Michael Gentry-Hill Jr. and 18-year-old Darren Hill as they tried to break into his apartment early Saturday. Both men died from gunshots to the head.

State police said Williams should not have had a weapon because of a 2008 forgery conviction. But Wright said Tuesday that a 2010 court ruling says Williams can still use a handgun to defend himself and his property, even though he is a convicted felon.

Wright said Williams’ apartment had been broken into three times before.