Yolo County authorities say a Davis baseball star died after being punched by a friend on Picnic Day, but they don't intend to file charges.
The county coroner concluded the death of Scott Heinig, 22, was a homicide - a "death caused by human hands" - the Yolo County District Attorney's office said in a news release.
But the DA's office said Heinig's death was the "result of accident or misfortune," with no intent to kill.
"Furthermore, the accident was the result of conduct that the individuals had engaged in on multiple occasions in the past without these tragic results," the prosecutors office wrote.
According to the news release, Heinig was at a house party with friends on the night of of April 16 -- the date of UC Davis' annual open house, known as Picnic Day.
As the party was winding down at about about 8 p.m., Heinig and several of his friends were standing in the driveway, and Heinig insisted that a friend punch him in the face.
A police investigation "revealed that this type of conduct was a common occurrence between Heinig and his friends," the statement said.
Heinig and other party goers had been drinking, it said.
The unidentified friend initially refused, but after Heinig struck him twice in the face, he punched back.
Heinig stumbled and fell, striking his head on the driveway.
An autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and neck. The punch caused an artery in Heinig's neck to rupture, a rare injury, the press statement said.
"The death of Scott Heinig is the result of a tragic set of circumstances that do not rise to the level of criminal conduct warranting a criminal prosecution of the individuals involved in the incident," the prosecutor's office said.
KCRA: Former UC Davis student's death ruled homicide - July 13, 2011
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