A Clearwater man was not charged after firing his handgun twice at an attacking dog, according to a report from the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies responded to a call on Townsend Street in Beech Island at 8:28 p.m. Sunday to a shots-fired call.
Officers said they found a deceased pit bull-type dog in the road. The man who was attacked by the dog said he had a concealed-weapons permit and had shot the dog after it attacked him, his wife and their dog that was on a leash, according to the report.
Officers reported the man suffered several wounds on his hands and arms that appeared to be dog bites, according to reports.
The man told officers he discharged his handgun twice, striking the dog both times.
He also told officers he shot the dog the second time to "put it out of it's misery," according to reports.
The dog's owner told officers her dog got out of the house and went after the man's dog. She added she ran after the dog because she saw the attack escalate, and attempted to grab the dog as the man shot it, police said.
Police said several witnesses' statements were consistent.
Officers verified that the man had a S.C. concealed-weapons permit and determined that he was acting in self-defense, stating he "was at that point in fear of great bodily injury and lawfully discharged his handgun to protect himself," according to reports.