Ave Maria Law Student Is Charged with Attempted Murder; Alleged Victims Were Also Students
An Ave Maria law student has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault based on allegations he fired a gun at his roommate during a drunken incident in which he also threatened his ex-girlfriend.
Robert Ringley, 25, is being held on $1 million bond, report Wink News, the News-Press, Naples Daily News and Above the Law. He was arrested Friday after the incident at his apartment involving the roommate, Christopher Michael Graves, and his ex-girlfriend, Samantha Ashley Morris. All three are Ave Maria students.
Graves and Morris told police that Ringley was drinking scotch when he took out a gun and ordered Morris to tell him she loved him. According to the police account, Morris asked Graves to calm Ringley, and Graves managed to get the gun and go outside. Ringley followed Graves, however, and got the gun back. He is accused of forcing Graves and Morris to get on their knees before removing the gun’s magazine. After that, police allege, Morris ran back to the apartment, Ringley fired into the air, then pointed the gun at Graves and pulled the trigger.
“I saw the big flash of the muzzle and heard the bullet whiz by me,” Graves reportedly told deputies.
A statement released by the Naples, Fla., law school said the incident is under investigation, but privacy laws limit its ability to comment. An “internal process” involving student arrests is under way, according to the statement published by Wink News.
“Beyond that, our focus is on Ms. Morris and Mr. Graves, making sure they have all the support available as they recover from the events of Friday morning,” the Ave Maria statement said. “Their personal/academic needs and their ability to move on quickly from this incident are paramount as we progress through this episode.”
