A 22-year-old North Carolina college student lost her life over the weekend in what police are calling a random act of violence during a South Carolina home invasion. Logan Federico, an aspiring teacher from Waxhaw, NC, was visiting friends in Columbia, SC, when tragedy struck. Early Saturday morning, Alexander Dickey, 30, allegedly drove a stolen car into the neighborhood, broke into several homes—including the one Federico was staying in—and fatally shot her after stealing credit cards.

Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook didn't mince words, describing Dickey as a "career criminal" and the crime as completely random. Dickey’s criminal record, by the way, reads longer than most people's resumes—he's been tangled up in 40 criminal and traffic cases since 2013, with convictions ranging from burglary to grand larceny and resisting arrest. His last stint behind bars? A mere 30 days for resisting arrest. Clearly, the system’s revolving door was working overtime.

After the shooting, Dickey reportedly went on a spending spree with the stolen cards in West Columbia. When his stolen ride broke down in Saluda County, he called a tow truck and tried to lay low at a residence in Gaston. Authorities tracked him down, and after a brief search, arrested him when he tried to make a run for it.

Federico’s father, Stephen, spoke both bravely and heartbreakingly at a news conference. He described his daughter as strong, loving, and a "spicy" Taylor Swift superfan who juggled two jobs while studying to become a teacher. "You can't kill my spirit," he said, sharing a message to Dickey that speaks to the resilience of Logan’s memory.

Dickey's now facing a mountain of charges: murder, burglary, weapons violations, grand larceny, and more. Columbia police expressed their condolences to the Federico family, emphasizing the teamwork between agencies that led to Dickey's arrest. They promised to stand with Logan’s loved ones as justice is pursued.

College Students News

NC College Student Logan Federico Fatally Shot in Random SC Home Invasion; Suspect With Long Rap Sheet Arrested