Former South Forsyth Track Star Beaten to Death in Statesboro

A former member of the South Forsyth High School track team has died after sustaining a severe beating outside a bar in his college town, NorthFulton.com reports.

Michael Gatto was found unconscious outside popular Statesboro bar Rude Rudy’s shortly after midnight on Thursday. He was rushed to the hospital, but died of his injuries there. He was 18 years old and was just beginning his freshman year at Georgia Southern University, whose campus is located in Statesboro.

Grant James Spencer, a bouncer at Rude Rudy’s who was not on duty Thursday, has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault by police for allegedly beating Gatto unconscious. Charges against Spencer could be elevated to manslaughter. Spencer has since been fired by Rude Rudy’s.

South Forsyth High School’s track program tweeted a short statement concerning Gatto’s death on Thursday.

“Michael Gatto was an integral part of our track program for 4 years,” the tweet reads. “He was a tremendous young man and will be missed by all that knew him.