Man convicted of 2020 hunting accident that killed father and daughter

COLLETON COUNTY, SCSC (WCBD) – A man has been convicted in connection with a shooting during a hunting trip on New Year’s Day 2020 that left a father and his 9-year-old daughter dead.

Sean Peterson, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent use of a firearm while hunting, according to the SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). He was sentenced to five years in prison and four years probation.

“Peterson fired at a noise coming from the bushes without identifying his target,” SCDNR wrote on X. The Colleton County coroner identified the victims of that shooting as Lauren Drawdy, 9, and Kim Drawdy, 30.

According to earlier reports, four hunters were attempting to herd deer on Barracada Road in Walterboro when two of them, later identified as the Drawdys, were shot and killed because they were mistaken for deer.

Peterson was arrested by the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office in July 2020 for the fatal crash.

“We would like to thank our officers, investigators, supporting agencies and prosecutors for their diligent work on this case,” SCDNR said.