In the winter of 2014, the community of Orangeburg, South Carolina, was shaken by the violent and untimely death of 20-year-old Brandon Robinson. A junior at South Carolina State University, Robinson was not only a dedicated student but also a promising member of the university's football team, playing as an outside linebacker and defensive end.
On the afternoon of January 24, 2014, an argument erupted outside the Hugine Suites, a dormitory on the university's campus.
The dispute, involving Robinson and another student, 19-year-old Justin Bernard Singleton, tragically escalated. Singleton, a sophomore business major, pulled out a gun and fired at Robinson, striking him in the neck. Robinson was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
In the immediate aftermath, the university was placed on lockdown as authorities began their search for those responsible. Initially, it was reported that police were looking for four individuals who had fled the campus. However, the investigation quickly led them to Singleton. Early the next morning, he was located at an Orangeburg apartment complex and taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with murder.
The senseless act of violence sent shockwaves through the South Carolina State University family and the broader Orangeburg community. Friends, teammates, and coaches remembered Robinson as a fine young man who was diligently working to pay his way through college with a passion for playing football for his university.
In the legal proceedings that followed, Justin Singleton pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. For his role in the death of Brandon Robinson, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In addition to the criminal case, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against South Carolina State University. The lawsuit alleged that the university, situated in a high-crime area, failed to provide adequate security and was aware of Singleton's history of violent conduct. The case was eventually settled, with the university and two related entities agreeing to a financial payout to Robinson's estate.
