GALESBURG, Mich. — Friends and family of Ryan Cole, 22, say they want justice, after the young father-to-be was found unconscious on the balcony of his apartment early Saturday morning. Police say he was beaten. It appears a fight went too far at the Country View apartments in Galesburg.
Cole died the hospital. No arrests have been made in the case.
"It was a party somewhere in Galesburg, and I guess things just started going downhill," said Quinton Carpenter, Cole's friend.
Cole's friends say they are heartbroken. They say he was a great friend, and he was turning his life around. He had moved back home with his mother and had a baby on the way. No one was expecting this to happen.
"We didn't believe it, and then we did some investigation and found out that he was beaten to death," said Jessie Nash, another friend.
"He was always caring, loving, and he was a great kid," Carpenter said.
Police are also looking for two potential key witnesses to come forward with information.
As for Cole's friends, they have only one request: "You need to fess up and you need to apologize for what you did," said Nash, addressing whoever is responsible. "You just took someone away from a lot of people."
Cole's father released a statement to FOX 17 Sunday night:
"I lost my son, Ryan. He had such a loving heart and he had such a future ahead of him. I have complete faith in the police to bring to justice those who are responsible for this horrible act. My son did not deserve this in any way, shape or form."
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 269-665-4200. To help with funeral expenses, visit the family GoFundMe page.
