On September 21, 2012, Colton Ryan Gleason was killed by a stranger's punch. Colton was walking through an alley with some female college friends when a car full of people approached, driving very close. In the process of trying to protect his friends, Colton touched the vehicle, at which point 17-year-old Jessie Smithers got out. He punched Colton in the face, causing him to fall and strike his head on the pavement.