Robert Raeke Jr. was a tall man who stood out in a crowd, his biceps — chiseled from military training —encircled with bold tattoos. The Iraq War veteran lit up the dance floor, cracking jokes and inviting friends over to party.

But early Saturday, an evening of revelry for Raeke, 23, ended in tragedy. After a long night of dancing and drinking, the young man had invited several buddies to take a dip in the pool at his Glen Burnie home, when a fistfight broke out. Raeke fell, struck his head on the pavement, and was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Ryan Richard Hynson, 25, a neighbor, was charged with manslaughter in the death of Raeke, who had returned from Iraq late last year.

The victim's father said that he was praying for Hynson, who had been a friend of his son's since high school.

"This is a tragedy for both families." said Robert Raeke Sr., of Glen Burnie.

After receiving a call about an assault, police and paramedics found Raeke suffering from a head injury not far from his home in the 900 block of Shamrock Court around 2:40 a.m., Anne Arundel County police said. He was taken to the Baltimore Washington Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy ruled Raeke's death a homicide caused by head trauma, police said.

Hynson, 25, of the 400 block of Magnolia Road, was arrested Saturday afternoon and released on bail, police said. He has been charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment in Raeke's death.

Raeke, a 2005 graduate of Glen Burnie High School who was known to friends as "JR" or "Jay," had served 15 months in Iraq before, his father said. "He was my hero," Robert Raeke Sr. said, "I didn't expect anything like this to happen back here."

Raeke, who had been working at a furniture warehouse since he returned, enlivened any gathering, said a friend, Greg Deavers of Glen Burnie. "He was the realest person I ever met," said Deavers. "He always liked to be the funniest guy at the party."

Raeke would mimic the noise of a machine gun before charging onto the dance floor or flirting with a pretty girl, Deavers said.

Another friend, Amanda Hatch of Glen Burnie, said Raeke went to the gym nearly every day to hone the muscles he had developed in the Army.

"He loved working out, and he was all about the girls," said Hatch. "He just loved to party."

Raeke had planned to spend the weekend party-hopping and celebrating the Fourth of July with buddies, including Hynson, said a friend, Morris Hopkins, 25.

"All of us were supposed to watch the fireworks tonight," said Hopkins, who said he had been friends with both Raeke and Hynson since high school.

On Friday evening, Raeke was drinking with Deavers and other friends drinking at Hanover's Cancun Cantina, but left to visit another hangout, Restless Ric's in Glen Burnie.

It appears that he was talking with Hynson there and invited him and two other friends to swim in his pool, friends said. But before the four young men arrived at Raeke's home, a dispute began, apparently about Iraq, said Hopkins.

"They're both hot-headed individuals," Hopkins said of Hynson and Raeke. "A little argument and a lot of alcohol. … It was just a freak accident."

Hopkins said that Hynson, who was released on bail, was devastated by Raeke's death and fearful because threats had been made against him.

Hynson could not be reached for comment Sunday evening.

Raeke's father said that his heart went out to Hynson and his family.

"We knew the other family, but not personally, like my son did," said Robert Raeke Sr. "That family is in our prayers. It's a loss-loss for both of us. This other boy — his life is ruined."