LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) -- A South Carolina prosecutor has dropped a murder charge against a man who shot and killed a teenager during a brawl outside a Chapin home in 2008.
The State newspaper of Columbia reported Saturday that the Lexington County prosecutor's office said in a notice dismissing the charge that it could not disprove Francis Marion Reeves III's claim of self-defense.
A grand jury had indicted Reeves on a murder charge in the death of 17-year-old Deshaun Clark.
Stephen Soltis represents Clark's family, which is suing the 64-year-old Reeves in connection with Clark's death. Soltis says he was stunned by the decision to drop the charges.
Reeves' attorney Dick Harpootlian says his client is sorry about the loss of life, but is glad the prosecutor realized Reeves was acting in self-defense.
Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com
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