Nicholas Massa, an 18-year-old freshman at Kent State University, was shot and killed on February 7, 2016, in Kent, Ohio. Massa was visiting a friend’s apartment when three teenagers entered intending to rob that apartment’s resident, a drug dealer who was a friend of Massa. During the robbery Massa was an unintended victim and was shot to death.

Prosecutors identified 19-year-old Damantae Graham as the shooter; two other teenagers involved were named as Anton Planicka and Marquis Grier. Graham was convicted at trial of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, and kidnapping; the jury recommended the death penalty and the judge imposed it. In December 2020 the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the convictions but overturned the death sentence and ordered a new sentencing hearing, citing mitigating factors.

Massa’s family described the profound loss he left behind; his sister Kelly Massa called him her little brother and best friend, and his uncle Scott Massa spoke of grief and anger during the trial. Does anyone have memories of Nicholas or information about that night that could shed more light on what happened?