South Carolina State Football Player Fatally Shot on Campus Friday; Teen Arrested Saturday and Charged With His Murder

Brandon Robinson

Another young life has been cut down on a college campus as 20-year-old South Carolina State University football player Brandon Robinson was fatally shot on campus Friday.

According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Saturday morning said 19-year-old Justin Bernard Singleton of Charleston, S.C., was arrested and charged with the murder of Robinson.  According to CNN, police said the two were arguing around 1:30 p.m. Friday in the University's Andrew Hugine Suites Living and Learning Community when Singleton pulled a gun and shot Robinson in the neck. 

Charged with Robinson's Murder is 19-year-old Justin Bernard Singleton

The Associated Press reported that Singleton was arrested just after midnight at the parking lot of an apartment complex in Orangeburg, said Thom Berry, a public information officer with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Robinson was a redshirt junior defensive lineman who was an Orangeburg native playing for his hometown school.  He played in four games this past season, making five tackles. 


"We are saddened by the loss of one our own students," said South Carolina State president Thomas J. Elzey Friday.  "Our deepest condolences go to the family of the victim."

Earlier in the day, he told reporters as he fought back tears, "We again are extraordinarily sad about this. He was a very nice young man. And it hurts.  It hurts us all."

The South Carolina State campus was temporarily locked down as police searched for four males who were seen leaving the campus area. Claflin University, located across the street from South Carolina State was also temporarily locked down.

"Of course, our first order of business here is to make sure our students are safe and cared for during this very difficult time," Elzey said Friday. "Grief counseling is being made available for our students, faculty and staff."