A college student was shot dead while accidentally trying to enter the wrong home at night.
20-year-old Nick Anthony Donofrio was a University of South Carolina student who recently moved into a frat house on South Holly Street in Rosewood.
On Saturday morning, just a week after the young man moved into the off-campus home, Nick was shot dead while accidentally trying to enter another home on the street at 2 a.m.
According to the reports, the third-year college student mistook the home he tried to enter for his frat house, prompting the homeowner to mistake him for a burglar and shoot him dead.
When the police arrived on the scene in response to a burglary report, the 20-year-old was found dead on the porch of the home.
As of this writing, the tragic shooting remains under investigation, whereas the owner of the home Nick tried to enter hasn’t yet been arrested or charged with any wrongdoing.
“Columbia Police Department (CPD) officers are investigating the overnight shooting of a 20-year-old male University of South Carolina student from Connecticut,” the police said in a statement.
“Shortly before 2:00 a.m. 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.”
The police statement continued: “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.”
Our thoughts remain with Nick’s loved ones during this challenging time.