SPARTANBURG COUNTY – A man from Landrum was shot and killed in Wellford, S.C. on Halloween night by his nephew, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office says there will be no charges at this point as the killing has been ruled in self-defense.

Bryan Paul Blackwell, 44, of 113 Walker Rd., Landrum, was shot and killed by his nephew, Cody Lawrence, 29, of Wellford, on Tuesday night, Oct. 31.

Spartanburg County Deputies responded at 9:25 to a house on Nazareth Road in Wellford, S.C. to a report of a shooting.

Deputies found Lawrence with serious stab wounds to his abdomen area, according to sheriff’s office reports.

Lawrence told deputies before he was taken to the hospital he had been stabbed by his uncle, Blackwell. Lawrence also told deputies he had shot Blackwell in self-defense, according to the sheriff’s office.

According to reports, Lawrence said Blackwell was threatening to cut Lawrence’s mother because she came to move Blackwell’s mother to North Carolina. Lawrence’s mother also was cut on her hand by Blackwell when she tried to get the knife away from Blackwell, reports say. Lawrence was injured when he pushed his mother out of Blackwell’s way, the report states.

There were five witnesses at the scene who supported Lawrence’s account of the incident, according to reports.

The case was presented to the solicitor’s office last Thursday afternoon and it was determined Lawrence acted in self-defense for himself and his mother, so no criminal charges were brought.

The sheriff’s office said the ruling is subject to change if any new information comes forward.

As of late last week, Lawrence was still in the hospital recovering from his injuries.