A tragedy. I can only imagine what these families are going through.
Fellow freshman charged with murder after argument ends in blows, police say
BY JOHN CHAMBLISS Post and Courier
What started as a heated argument between two college freshmen at a small Christian university ended Tuesday with one dead and another facing murder charges.
Grant Ringenberg, 18, who friends described as an athletic, caring person with a great sense of humor, died about 3:15 p.m., 15 hours after he was beaten into a coma.
Ringenberg, of Apex, N.C., suffered massive head injuries during a fight early Tuesday with classmate Dan Thomas Davis III at Charleston Southern University, North Charleston police said.
Ringenberg was repeatedly hit and kicked in the face outside a dormitory, suffering brain damage and fractured bones. Police said he slipped into a coma soon after the beating.
Davis, 18, was charged with murder. He and Ringenberg both lived on campus. School officials would not release Davis' hometown.
Davis was first held in the Charleston County jail on $100,000 bail on a charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. Charges against him were later upgraded to murder, said Spencer Pryor, a police spokesman. Another bond hearing is scheduled today.
Students at the private Baptist college were devastated.
"Words cannot express how unbelievably saddened we are at the news of Grant's passing," said Jairy Hunter, university president. "He was a promising student and athlete. We continue to pray for everyone who is involved in this tragic situation."
Witnesses were trying to pin down the exact cause of the dispute, but police said an ongoing fight over Ringenberg's girlfriend led to the fight. Friends of Ringenberg said the fight was linked to an earlier dispute during a Halloween party. It was unclear what the two argued about then.
The altercation started about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday outside Russell Hall in the rear of the campus. Davis told police that Ringenberg had called him "to talk" and asked him to meet at the "horseshoe," an area outside the dormitory where students socialize.
About 20 people witnessed the exchange, which quickly turned into an argument as the two moved closer to each other.
Davis made a derogatory remark about Ringenberg's girlfriend. "Dan said, 'I don't know why I would want that,' " said witness Carolena Stemler.
"They were screaming at each other for about three minutes," said witness Rebecca Peters, a friend of Ringenberg's.
During the argument, Davis handed a friend his cellular phone. Ringenberg's hands remained in his pockets, Stemler said.
Seconds later, Davis punched Ringenberg, knocking him to the ground, police said.
Ringenberg's head struck the concrete surface, knocking him unconscious, witnesses said. Davis then crouched over his classmate and repeatedly punched him in the head, they said.
"Grant was choking on his blood," Peters said.
A friend of Ringenberg shoved Davis and it appeared that he would walk away. Seconds later though, he walked back to Ringenberg's still body and repeatedly kicked him in the head, police said.
Later, Davis walked into the Dean of Students' office and gave a statement, according to police. Peters asked friends of Ringenberg to turn him on his side so he wouldn't choke.
Emergency officials arrived and took Ringenberg to Trident Medical Center. He was later transferred to Medical University Hospital.
Peters said that many of the witnesses were friends of Davis.
"It happened so fast," Peters said. "We thought it was just going to be one punch and he was done."
Until Tuesday, there hadn't been one fight involving the 3,000 students, Hunter said.
"This is an isolated event we haven't seen in the 21 years I've been here," he said.
A redshirt pitcher for the Eagles, Ringenberg was a star pitcher in high school in his hometown.
More than 1,000 students, about a third of the entire student body, attended a prayer service at the university's on-campus chapel just hours after learning of Ringenberg's death. The school chaplain led the participants in prayers for the families of both students. Other speakers included students, school administrators and the baseball coach, Jason Murray.
Murray said he envisioned Ringenberg becoming a "superstar" if he had put some weight on his lanky 6-foot-4-inch frame. Neil Krock, a sophomore who plays the outfield, asked God to have mercy on his teammate.
"We just pray that you have mercy on him, Father," Krock said. "He's in a better place with you, Father."
Dr. Bob Ratliff, dean of students, asked the room to pray for both families.
"We also pray, Father, for the family of Dan. Dan's family also got a call today that they never expected," Ratliff said. "For two lives have been forever changed."
He prayed for those who are angry, "that those who are angry, their anger will turn to compassion."
Dr. Rick Brewer, vice president of student affairs, said that in the coming weeks, the school plans a memorial service with Ringenberg's family. The family had told him they would donate several of Ringenberg's organs to others.
"We know that's a God kind of love that cares for others," Brewer said. "Let's pray together."
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