The boyfriend of rising boxer Hannah Rapp, who was killed in a suspected road rage incident, tearfully revealed at a memorial service that he had been planning to propose to her. Dr. Will Pollalis spoke at a memorial in College Station, Texas, for Rapp, who would have turned 27 the following week.
"You didn’t know it, but we were going ring shopping as part of your birthday present," Pollalis said, addressing Rapp through tears. "I’m so sorry I waited." He and Rapp had been in a relationship for five years. Pollalis, an engineering professor at Texas A&M University, also expressed his grief and dependence on Rapp, saying, "I love you. I miss you. Be with me still. Give me strength and guide me. I can’t do it without you."
Rapp, known in the boxing world by the nickname “Hannibal,” was struck and killed while cycling with Pollalis in Brazos County. According to an affidavit, the suspect, Charles Eric Medina, allegedly drove past the couple with minimal clearance, prompting Pollalis to yell at the vehicle. Medina then allegedly braked, reversed, and hit Rapp, whose head struck the rear window before she fell to the road. She later died from her injuries.
Medina, 31, who resides near the incident site, was initially arrested on manslaughter charges. The charges were later upgraded to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Jail records indicate Medina has a history of arrests in Brazos County dating back to 2012, with 13 previous charges including reckless driving, evading arrest, and a hit-and-run. Two of his most recent cases, from 2024 and 2025, were still pending.
Rapp was a former track star at Purdue University before moving to Texas in 2024, where she worked as an environmental health and safety specialist. She pursued a career in boxing and recently challenged for the WBC women's featherweight title. Tiara Brown, who defeated Rapp in that bout, remembered her as a formidable opponent, describing her as “the best dance partner I have ever faced as a pro” and expressing honor in sharing the ring with her.