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College Student Killed in Shooting Over Beer Pong

By Christopher Coble, Esq. on June 05, 2015 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

A young Texas college student was shot and killed, and two other people were injured after a fight over the rules of beer pong.

Ronald Wayne McNeil, of College Station, Texas, was angry after a fight over the game of beer pong. So, he apparently decided to settle the argument by shooting at, killing, and injuring innocent people.

The Attack

On May 2nd, Landon Duke threw a graduation party at his home. More than 100 people were there to celebrate and watch the Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. boxing match. McNeil, who lived directly across the street, showed up uninvited with a couple of friends, reports the Inquisitr.

During the match, McNeil got upset because not enough people were cheering for Mayweather. According to reports, McNeil and his friends went to play a game of beer pong with some other guests. An argument erupted between McNeil and other guests over the rules of the game. A fight broke out, and Duke knocked out one of McNeil's friends with a punch. McNeil and crew were asked to leave the party.

They did leave, but not for long. McNeil returned shortly after with a .40 caliber Glock pistol whereupon he allegedly fired 14 shots, killing 19-year old Lacie LaRose, hitting another guest in the leg, and injuring a third guest with shrapnel.

The Charges

Shortly after the shooting, McNeil was arrested and charged with murder, deadly conduct for discharge of a firearm, and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Murder

Texas law states that a person commits murder if he "intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual." McNeil claims that he was only trying to scare the guests. He would argue that he did not intentionally cause LaRose's death.

However, in Texas, murder also includes "intend[ing] to cause serious bodily injury and commit[ting] an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual." Again, McNeil may argue that he did not intend to cause serious bodily injury when he shot his gun. But, what did he think would happen when he shot at a group of people? Did he believe the bullets would turn into flowers and shower the guests with rose petals?

McNeil has told investigators that his gun went off accidentally. Twice. Shooting a total of 14 bullets.

Murder is a first degree felony. If convicted, McNeil faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 99 years in prison, or a life sentence on the murder charge alone.

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