In Columbia, South Carolina, a 20-year-old University of South Carolina student was fatally shot after mistakenly entering the wrong house on his street. Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, a sophomore from Connecticut, had just begun his second year at the university. The shooting occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The Richland County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as Nicholas Anthony Donofrio. Donofrio’s untimely death occurred when he inadvertently entered a residence several blocks away from the University of South Carolina campus.
Prior to the incident, law enforcement had been dispatched to the residence in response to a reported burglary in progress. While en route, the situation escalated, and the call was upgraded to a shots fired call. Upon arrival, officers discovered Donofrio’s lifeless body on the front porch, having sustained a gunshot wound to his upper body. The identity of the shooter has not been released, and the investigation is ongoing. The Columbia Police Department is collaborating with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
The University of South Carolina, which commenced its fall semester just days ago, expressed its condolences and support to those who have been impacted. The university’s Student Affairs team is providing resources and assistance to students in need.
This unfortunate incident echoes a similar shooting that occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, four months ago. In that case, 17-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot in the head and arm after mistakenly going to the wrong house to pick up his siblings. The homeowner, 84-year-old Andrew Lester, was arrested and charged with felony assault and armed criminal action. Lester claimed self-defense, stating that he believed someone was attempting to break into his house.