The camper fired a shot in the dark. It killed a mother and grandmother, cops say.

Hours after Holly Hill resident Dawn Schaefer shared a Facebook post extolling the virtues of a long-term relationship Sunday, her longtime boyfriend Andrew McGee was explaining how he fatally shot her.

That’s according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, which put names and an explanation to what it is initially describing as a tragic accident that killed a mother and grandmother.

VCSO said the couple had pitched a tent in a wooded area of Oak Hill around 5 p.m. Sunday. Darkening skies dropped rain on Schaefer, 53, and McGee, 49.

“McGee told detectives he heard gunshots in the area and came out of the tent to fire a warning shot in response to those gunshots,” VCSO said. “He said he slipped and accidentally shot Schaefer with an old, poorly functioning shotgun. He said Schaefer was not visible to him in the dark.”

McGee stayed at the scene and spoke to investigators. Charges aren’t being filed, but the case is still under investigation.

Volusia County records don’t show any restraining orders filed or violent acts between the two. McGee’s domestic violence battery arrest in 2013 centered on an argument involving only him and his brother, said the arrest report. The charge wasn’t prosecuted.

Sunday afternoon, on a Facebook page that declared her love of McGee, family and the Confederate flag, Schaefer shared a post that declared, “Being married or committed to one person is a beautiful thing. Don’t let these folks tell you a lie. Ain’t nothin’ better than having a soulmate, best friend, lover and protector.”

This story was originally published November 5, 2018 at 8:43 PM.