Slain USC student Nicholas Donofrio’s parents remember him as ‘compassionate’

August 28, 2023

The grieving parents of a University of South Carolina student who was shot dead when he tried to enter the wrong home had just dropped their “loving, compassionate” son off last week to begin his junior year.

Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, 20, — who was found dead about 2 a.m. Saturday on the front porch of a Columbia home — had moved in last week to a nearby residence that he was sharing with four friends, his parents told WTNH

They told the outlet that they had joined the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity member to drop him off for his junior year.

They declined to discuss the shooting, but described Donofrio as “a great son, loving, compassionate, all the traits you would want in a son.”

Police said they were called to a report of a break-in at the residence, which was on the same block where Donofrio lived.

“Preliminary information indicates that Donofrio who resided on South Holly Street attempted to enter the wrong home when he was fatally shot,” the statement read.

Nicholas Donofrio — Police said Donofrio, a Connecticut native, lived on the same street as the house he entered early Saturday, which is located less than 2 miles from the university’s main campus.

The young man, who transferred from the University of New England in 2021, was studying kinesiology and exercise science, according to his LinkedIn page.

His parents, who were not named, told the news outlet that Donofrio graduated from Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Connecticut, where he played baseball and basketball.

Officers were called to the house around 2 a.m. for the break-in, but a second call reported shots being fired before law enforcement arrived.

His former basketball coach, Jimmy Economopoulos, said the tragic student was the team’s captain in his senior year.

“It’s heartbreaking. When (I heard) the news, my heart just sank,” Economopoulos told CT Insider on Sunday. “He was just a smart, engaging, charismatic young man. … It wasn’t the phone call I was expecting to get yesterday, that’s for sure.”

Kate Reynolds, a resident in the neighborhood where the shooting took place, said she was shocked by the shooting that cut short a life.

“You think you’re going to be safe sending your kid off, you’re so excited sending your kid to school and something like this happens,” Reynolds 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,” she said.

“I hate to hear that somebody … even in the neighborhood, because this is usually such a more welcoming and friendly neighborhood than that,” Reynolds added.

The University of South Carolina’s first day of classes for the fall semester began Thursday.

“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,” the university said in a statement.