A University of South Carolina student was fatally shot after mistakenly entering the wrong house, Columbia, South Carolina police have reported. The victim, identified as 20-year-old Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, was found dead on the front porch of a residence on the 500 block of South Holly Street, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body.
Police were initially dispatched to the scene in the early hours of Saturday following a reported home burglary. However, the emergency call was upgraded to a shooting as officers were en route to the location. Upon arrival, they discovered Donofrio’s lifeless body.
The authorities have not released any information about the individual who fired the fatal shot, nor have they provided details about the resident of the home. The circumstances surrounding the encounter between Donofrio and the shooter remain unclear, as does the method by which Donofrio attempted to gain entry into the house.
Donofrio, originally from Connecticut, was a resident of South Holly Street, but lived at a different address, according to police. The Columbia Police Department (CPD) is continuing its investigation into the incident, in consultation with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
The University of South Carolina has expressed its condolences and is offering resources and support to those affected by the tragedy. In a statement to local news outlet WLTX, the university said, “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.”
Local resident Kate Reynolds, who has lived in the Rosewood neighborhood for 15 years, expressed her shock and sadness at the incident. She told WLTX, “It’s not how you want to start college and something traumatic. You’re going to have those memories of your friend. The whole experience is kind of tainted with that, too.”