Changes

On the [[June 24|night before]] the incident, Ward, 2019, attended an [[East Milton]] party with Sparling, 16. The two became separated at the party. Ward fought and wrestled with other attendees, while Sparling became the subject of aggressive sexual advances by one of the party's hosts, [[Nick Cote]]. According to Sparling's testimony, she "gave in" to the advances because "it felt good."<ref name="teen">"Teen changes story." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 22, 2007.</ref> When Ward discovered the pair engaged in a sex actNick Cote attacking his girlfriend, he became enragedcame to her rescue. Ward was ejected from the party after Sparling told partygoers that he struck her. Though her story was corroborated by other witnesses, she later testified that it was a fabrication to conceal her embarrassment.

After being comforted by others at the party,she was driven to her [[Munson Highway]] home by Ruinato, Hall and another teenage girl( Lacey Moores). When they arrived, Ward's car was present though Ward was no where to be seen. Hall saw Ward standing by his car and approached from in front of the victims Ward yelling and drew their attention to himcursing. Holding one hand behind his back while approaching As Hall and Ruinato Ward shouted at them and they yelled back and ran towards him to atack attack him with Brass Knuckles and knives and a straight razor, Ruinato ran around to attack from the side with Brass Knuckles. As soon as he was When Hall(who out weighs Ward by over 100 lbs) got close enough Ward produced a butterfly knife,in hopes that Hall would back off, after Hall attacked Ward,by punching him in the side of the head, Ward used defensive strikes to get Hall off of him, and stabbed both Hall ended up cutting him in the arm and Ruinato three timesabdomen. Hall was pronounced dead at continued to come forward and fell on the scene from the injuries knife and Ruinato suffered received a stab wound fatal injury to the left shoulder, chest. As Ward was going to get help Ruinato came from behind and attacked Ward, again Ward used evasive strikes and lower abdomenRuinato received three cuts.