Man Dead After ‘Friendly Quick-Draw’ Competition

GREER, SOUTH CAROLINA — One man is dead and another is in custody after a quick-draw competition between the two at a residence in Spartanburg County.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a shooting call on Friday evening. The two men, identified as James Turner, 21 and Raelan Hamilton, 21, had already done 14 rounds of a fast-draw contest that evening. The two men had been friends since middle school.

According to sheriff’s officials, Turner claimed he “accidentally chambered a round into his handgun from muscle memory.” He and Hamilton engaged in a 15th contest and Hamilton was shot in the process, dying from a single gunshot wound.

Statements given at the time by Turner and another resident corroborated the physical evidence collected. Turner was charged with involuntary manslaughter.