Rock Hill club owner will not face charges in deadly shooting

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Charges will not be filed against a Rock Hill nightclub owner whom authorities said shot and killed a patron in January, the York County Sheriff's Office announced Friday.

Sheriff Kevin Tolson said after a thorough review of the facts and circumstances, it was determined by the Sheriff’s Office and solicitor’s office that the shooting was a justified act of self-defense.

[PAST COVERAGE: 28-year-old man shot, killed by Rock Hill nightclub owner identified]

“After weighing the accounts of more than 40 witnesses, it was determined that 76-year-old Elijah McClendon ‘Mac’ Teal was unlawfully assaulted by 28-year-old Christopher Michael Elkins,” Tolson said.

Elkins and a group of friends got into an altercation Jan. 15 in the Hideaway Club and were asked to leave, according to investigators. Elkins and his group headed toward the parking lot and then later returned to the club, authorities said. Investigators said Teal refused to allow Elkins to re-enter the business, and Elkins hit Teal in the head.

Authorities said Teal pulled a gun and fired two shots, one of which hit Elkins and killed him.

“While the death of Mr. Elkins was certainly unfortunate, the investigation clearly supported the exercising of Mr. Teal’s right of self-defense both under the statutory and common law of South Carolina,” said Solicitor Kevin Brackett.  “A business owner has no duty to retreat when attacked at their place of business and the disparity between the ages and physical conditions of Mr. Teal and Mr. Elkins reasonably placed Mr. Teal in fear of suffering serious injury at the hands of Elkins.”

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