Ax versus gun.

A few minutes before midnight on March 7, a man apparently looking for money broke into an apartment in Anderson, South Carolina. The intruder, Earnest Miles, found an ax among some tools belonging to apartment resident Lance Myers, then climbed the stairs to the bedroom where Myers was sleeping. Wielding the ax in a threatening manner, Miles entered the room and began moving toward Myers. Myers, roused by the noise, grabbed a handgun from his nightstand and shot Miles in the neck. Miles died at an area medical center shortly thereafter.

Following their investigation, detectives announced the next day that police would not file any charges against Myers. Prosecutors later agreed that he had acted in self-defense and should not be charged. Solicitor (State's Attorney) Druanne White of South Carolina's Tenth Judicial Circuit told reporters in late May that when she reviewed the evidence and compared it to what Myers had told investigators, "everything ... ended up panning out." Under South Carolina law, Myers was justified in using deadly force because he reasonably feared bodily harm or death and had not instigated the attack.