A Gulf Breeze man will not face charges after authorities said he accidentally shot and killed his son-in-law who had just flown into the U.S. from Norway as a birthday surprise.

The tragic case of mistaken identity occurred around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at a home in the 1000 block of Coronado Court, said Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson at a Thursday morning press conference.

Johnson said that Richard Dennis, 61, of Gulf Breeze, shot and killed 37-year-old Christopher Bergan, who was married to Dennis' daughter. Bergan had flown from Norway to Florida to surprise his father-in-law for his 61st birthday, the sheriff said.

Earlier that evening, Dennis and another one of his relatives got into an argument after the relative came by the home and banged on the front door, according to police.

When Bergan later arrived at the home to surprise Dennis, he banged on the back door without announcing himself. But Dennis thought Bergan was the relative with whom he had previously argued and opened his door while armed.

The sheriff said that Bergan jumped out of the bushes as a surprise, and Dennis then fired one round from a .380 semi-automatic firearm and struck Bergan in the heart, instantly killing him, according to Johnson.

Shooting under investigation:SRSO investigating after one person found shot dead in Gulf Breeze neighborhood

Dennis will not be charged in the incident, said Assistant State Attorney Amber Rowland.

"I’m not going to second guess Mr. Dennis for what he did. Here he is, he had just had a confrontation at the front of his house," said the sheriff. "Couple hours later, someone is banging on his back door, and it’s a fenced yard.

"And then someone jumps out of the bushes,” Johnson said. "You can’t really say anything against Mr. Dennis for doing what he did."

Johnson urged people to pray for Dennis and his family.

Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.