Q. Richardson stabbed by jealous classmate

Quintin Richardson, one of the highest profile signees in USC’s consensus Top 10 recruiting class, received six non-life-threatening stab wounds Saturday night from a jealous former high school classmate. Read inside for the exclusive details we have received in this breaking story.

Richardson had been harassed by 19-year-old Ross Grant for at least the last week, and Grant is accused of having called Richardson dozens of times during that period on his cell phone, forcing Richardson to change his phone number. Grant, who also attended Spring Valley High School in Columbia, allegedly was accusing Richardson of having some type of relationship with a girl.

Grant reportedly confronted Richardson at a party at Hunter's Green Apartments on North Kings Way in Columbia, but Richardson restrained Grant after he was confronted by him, allegedly telling Grant that he did not even know the girl in question. When he released Grant and walked away, Grant rushed the 270 pound Richardson and attacked him from behind, stabbing him six times in the side, causing damage in the kidney and lung areas. Richardson turned to face his attacker again, not realizing he was injured until he saw blood pouring from his wounds. There were initial concerns that his wounds may have been life-threatening, but they have proven to be less serious. Richardson underwent successful surgery Sunday afternoon at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital to repair damage to his lung from one of the stab wounds.

Richardson had just graduated from Spring Valley High School, and has been preparing to start school at South Carolina on July 5 for the second summer school session. He had already begun participating in voluntary weight room workouts at USC, and had told GamecockAnthem.com that he'd lost about ten pounds of non-muscle weight during those workouts with the USC strength and conditioning coaches.

South Carolina’s 2007 recruiting class is widely regarded as the best football recruiting class in the history of USC, and Richardson was a large part of it in more ways than one. He quickly became a fan favorite when the highly coveted hometown football star first committed to USC over many other high-profile college programs, and then became an enthusiastic recruiter himself, encouraging many of the other high-profile recruits whom USC was pursuing to join him in Columbia and be part of “something special.”

Stay tuned to GamecockAnthem.com as we will continue to keep you updated on Richardson's status.


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