A Radford University student died Friday after being found unconscious at a Radford apartment complex nearly a week ago, the city's spokeswoman said.

Bobby Fletcher Thomason, 21, was found lying at the bottom of a set of stairs at the 500 building of Hunter's Ridge Apartments just after 3 a.m. Sunday, Radford police Lt. Andy Wilburn said.

Police first said it appeared that it was an accident that Thomason had fallen 10 to 15 feet onto the concrete.

But later Sunday, police arrested William Christopher Ritter in connection with the incident.

Ritter, 19, of Radford was charged with aggravated malicious wounding, a crime that, if convicted, is punishable by 20 years to life in prison.

He still faced the same charge after Thomason's death Friday, but the charge could be upgraded.

Police determined that the pair were on the steps outside the apartments when they got into an altercation near the second-story landing, Wilburn said.

Thomason was pushed and fell over a handrail, Wilburn said.

He said there's no indication that Thomason and Ritter knew each other. Neither man lived at the apartment building.

Ritter had been at the apartment complex with friends, Wilburn said. It remains unclear why Thomason was there.

Wilburn said be thinks Thomason was found right after he fell Sunday morning.

Media accounts have said it took place Saturday morning because a news release listed the time and date of the incident as 3:05 a.m. Sept. 13, but Wilburn clarified Friday that it was Sept. 14.

Thomason was taken to Carilion New River Valley Medical Center and then flown to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he remained in critical condition until his death. An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death, Radford spokeswoman Becky Hawke said.

Ritter is being held without bond in the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin. He was arraigned Thursday morning and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 30 in Radford General District Court.