A former Daniel Hand High School student and athlete, Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, 20, tragically lost his life early Saturday when he inadvertently entered the wrong house, resulting in a fatal shooting, as reported by the police in Columbia, South Carolina. Donofrio’s connection to the local community and his promising future were cut short, leaving his family and friends devastated.
Reflecting on this heartbreaking incident, Donofrio’s mother shared that the family is still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. Jimmy Economopoulos, the basketball coach at Daniel Hand High School in Madison, fondly remembered Donofrio as an integral part of the team from 2018 to 2021, even serving as captain during his senior year. He described Donofrio as a bright, engaging, and charismatic young man, expressing his deep sorrow at the unexpected news.
The police initially responded to a reported home burglary around 2 a.m. on Saturday, which later escalated into a shots fired call as they approached the scene. Tragically, officers discovered Donofrio’s lifeless body on the front porch of a residence on South Holly Street in Columbia, with a gunshot wound to his upper body. Preliminary findings suggest that Donofrio, who lived nearby on South Holly Street, mistakenly entered the wrong home, resulting in the fatal shooting. The investigation is ongoing, with police collaborating with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office to determine the circumstances surrounding this case.
At this time, authorities have not disclosed any arrests related to the incident or identified the shooter. South Carolina law adheres to the “castle doctrine,” allowing citizens to use lethal force without a duty to retreat when defending their home.
Under South Carolina law, an individual is presumed to have a reasonable fear of imminent danger when someone unlawfully and forcefully enters a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle. The law also extends this presumption to situations where one knows or has reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or act is taking place.
In response to this tragic event, Jeffrey Stensland, a spokesperson for the University of South Carolina, stated that the school’s Student Affairs team is offering resources and support to those affected, emphasizing that help is readily available to students. However, details regarding any planned vigil for Donofrio were not available.
Nicholas Anthony Donofrio’s legacy is intertwined with his time as a member of the Daniel Hand High School basketball and baseball teams, where he shared the court with fellow tri-captains Scott Testori and Mike Travisano during their senior year. His untimely passing leaves a void in the hearts of those who knew him, both on and off the court.
