Today's article from the Charleston Paper.
There seems to be no sense to be made of the tragedy at Charleston Southern University that left an aspiring pitcher dead and another student possibly facing life in prison.
By all accounts, Grant Ringenberg, 18, of Apex, N.C., was heading toward a promising future in baseball.
Dan Thomas Davis III, 18, of Williston, the man accused of savagely beating Ringenberg early Tuesday, was seen as an 'all-around good young man.'
Today, Ringenberg's family is planning his funeral. Davis' family is planning his defense.
Davis was charged with murder Tuesday night after Ringenberg died from his injuries.
Emma Bussell said she first noticed Ringenberg's sense of humor and caring attitude toward her while attending a party earlier this year. The two Charleston Southern freshmen began dating about three weeks ago. They went to the movies together, talked for hours to each other on campus and attended more parties together.
'He was fun to be around,' Bussell said Wednesday. 'He was very sweet.'
Davis' former principal at Barnwell High School, Linda Zionkowski, said she couldn't recall a time when Davis ever fought with anyone at the school.
'He was always so respectful and always made you smile,' Zionkowski said. 'It's a sad day for all of us here.
'He was an all-around good young man.'
Davis was being held without bail Wednesday in the Charleston County Detention Center on a charge of murder. If convicted, he faces 30 years to life in prison.
Police said a dispute between the two freshmen culminated in Ringenberg being beaten into a coma outside Russell
Hall in the horseshoe, an area outside the dormitory where students socialize. He died 15 hours later.
Nearly 20 students saw the beating, but it happened so fast, witnesses said, that they were unable to intervene in time to save Ringenberg.
Ringenberg and Davis were arguing about Bussell. It started with words and ended with punches, all of which, witnesses said, were thrown by Davis.
While Ringenberg's hands remained in his pockets, Davis punched him in the mouth, witnesses said. Ringenberg fell to the ground, striking his head against the concrete surface and getting knocked unconscious. Davis then crouched over his classmate and repeatedly beat him in the head, they said.
'It was so spontaneous,' said Rebecca Peters, a friend of Ringenberg's.
By the time one of Ringenberg's friends pushed Davis away, Ringenberg had been struck numerous times in the head. It appeared as though Davis was leaving, but he walked back to Ringenberg and kicked him in the head, police reported.
The death of Ringenberg and the arrest of Davis devastated nearly everyone connected to the freshmen.
Bussell, 18, of Paris, Ky., met Davis earlier this year through mutual friends. He cheered her up when she was homesick.
'He's just a funny person,' Bussell said. 'When I was down, he would be there.'
Bussell said Davis was a friend and nothing more.
Friends of Ringenberg on Wednesday sat several feet from where the beating occurred. They hugged each other and talked about the freshman, who was known in high school as 'Sunshine' because of his constant smile.
Ringenberg's coach, Jason Murray, said Ringenberg had the ability to be a star for the Eagles.
'Grant was the type who was really focused on the field,' Murray said.
The teenager who once threw a no-hitter for his high school was in line to receive a scholarship from the university, he said.
It was at Middle Creek High School where Ringenberg developed his best pitch, a wicked curve ball. 'He saw one of the biggest improvements from his junior to senior year I've ever seen,' said Mike Matthews, athletic director at the school.
Graham Chapman played high school baseball with Ringenberg.
'He was definitely one who put his friends first in his life,' Chapman said. 'I can't imagine how or why this happened.'
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