A tragic incident unfolded in Columbia, South Carolina, early on Saturday morning when a 20-year-old college student was fatally shot after mistakenly entering the wrong house. Nicholas Anthony Donofrio, a Sophomore at the University of South Carolina, was found dead on the front porch of an off-campus home on South Holly Street. Police received a call about a burglary in progress at the residence, but before they could arrive, the situation escalated to shots being fired.

According to authorities, Donofrio lived on the same street as the house he entered by accident. Initial findings suggest that he attempted to enter the wrong home, believing it was his own, leading to the fatal shooting. The Columbia Police Department has not yet released the identity of the person who fired the shots.

Donofrio, originally from Connecticut, was starting his sophomore year at the University of South Carolina. His parents described him as a loving and compassionate son. The university's Student Affairs team is providing resources and support to those affected by the tragedy.

The shooting is under investigation by the Columbia Police Department and the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office. No arrests have been made at this time. The incident comes just months after a similar shooting in Kansas City, further highlighting the dangers posed by such mistaken entries into homes.