A young man was fatally shot after he tried to enter the wrong house on a street he had recently moved in.
Nick Anthony Donofrio, a 20-year-old junior at the University of South Carolina, tragically lost his life when he mistakenly entered the wrong house in Columbia, South Carolina, where he lived. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on a Saturday.
His parents had helped him move into his new home only a week earlier. Donofrio’s body was discovered on the front porch of an off-campus residence, and the cause of death was identified as a gunshot wound to his upper body.
Hailing from Madison, Connecticut, Donofrio was pursuing a degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. He had previously attended Daniel Hand High School in Madison before transferring to the University of South Carolina from the University of New England.
At the time of his passing, he was a Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity member and had been excited about sharing a frat house with four friends during the academic year. His grieving parents told News8: “[Nick was] a great son, loving, compassionate, all the traits you would want in a son.”
According to reports, law enforcement received an initial call regarding a possible home burglary at the location. However, before officers could arrive, the situation escalated to shots being fired.
When the police reached the scene, they discovered Donofrio’s lifeless body on the residence’s porch. Authorities from the City of Columbia police department took over the investigation, and the Richland County Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as Nicholas Anthony Donofrio.
Preliminary information suggests that Donofrio had accidentally tried to enter the incorrect house, resulting in the fatal shooting. The circumstances surrounding the incident prompted the Columbia Police Department to consult with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office as part of its investigation.
The tragic loss deeply affected the University of South Carolina community. The university’s Student Affairs team offered resources and support to individuals impacted by the incident, emphasizing the availability of assistance to students during this difficult time. As of the provided information, no arrests had been made in connection with the case, and the investigation was ongoing.
The City of Columbia police department said in a statement: “Columbia Police Department (CPD) officers are investigating the overnight shooting of a 20-year-old male University of South Carolina student from Connecticut.
“Shortly before 2:00 am today, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of South Holly Street for a reported home burglary. ‘While en route, the emergency call for service was upgraded to a shots fired call.
“When officers arrived on the scene, they found a deceased male on the front porch with a gunshot wound to the upper body. ‘The Richland County Coroner’s Office has identified the male as Nicholas Anthony Donofrio.
“Preliminary information indicates that Donofrio who resided on South Holly Street attempted to enter the wrong home when he was fatally shot. CPD investigators will continue to consult with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office regarding the circumstances of the case.”
The University of South Carolina said in a statement: “Our Student Affairs team is providing resources and support to those who may be affected by this tragedy, and we remind all of our students that help is always available to them.”
I don’t know South Carolina laws but in most states someone has to actually enter your home before you can shoot them. So if he was on the porch and the cops were in route why didn’t the person living there yell for him to stop and the cops were coming this might have been avoided. It doesn’t say whether they shot through the door or not.