FAMU WBB Loses Player In Tragic Murder

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FAMU Player Stabbed and Killed; Suspect Arrested

From WCTV Channel 6: www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/TPD_FAMU_Player_Stabbed_Killed__129209578.html

Tallahassee 9-4-11 1:02 p.m.

Loved ones are having a tonight at the Eternal Flame on FAMU's campus at 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard.

Tallahassee 9-4-11 11:20 a.m.

Starquineshia Palmer had a previous arrest: Terry at the Manatee County Sheriff's Office says Palmer was on probation for her arrest on no valid driver's license.

Manatee County Sheriff's deputies picked her up on a warrant out of Hillsborough County.

Tallahassee 9-4-11

FAMU Press Release:

Florida A&M University (FAMU) is mourning the loss of Shannon Washington, a student and women’s basketball player.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to Shannon’s family and members of the Lady Rattlers Basketball Team,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “For Shannon to be killed in the prime of her life is tragic and senseless. She had so much promise as a student athlete. This is a great loss for the university and our athletic program.”

The FAMU Student Government Association will have a vigil tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the FAMU Eternal Flame to celebrate the life of Washington.

Washington was a standout basketball player at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) earning All-American honors both seasons at IVCC.

A native of Sarasota, Fla., her success at IVCC earned her the distinction of having a replica of her jersey to be honored in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.

Washington transferred to FAMU and was expected to play this fall as a shooting guard.

“It is truly a trying situation to lose a student-athlete that has come to us to further her education and excel at her sport,” said LeDawn Gibson, FAMU’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “As a coach, this is the kind of incident you just hope you never have to deal with — the death of one of your players at such a young age.”

“The closeness of the students, coaches and staff at FAMU Athletics resembles that of a family,” said Derek Horne, FAMU’s director of Athletics. “Losing a family member is never easy. Our task now is to make sure we learn from this, and make as much effort at preparing our student athletes for all situations that may occur.”

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THAT IS SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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From CBS Sports:

Florida A&M women's basketball player Shannon Washington was killed early Sunday morning after an argument with friend Starquineshia Palmer, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.

The Famuan reports that TPD officers arrived at the residence in question at approximately 2:05 a.m., after a stabbing had been reported. They found Washington with a stab wound in her neck from a kitchen knife. She was treated by the officers on the scene until medics arrived, then transferred to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Palmer, 20, had traveled from Central Florida to visit the victim for the weekend and was still in the apartment when officers arrived. She was later detained and charged with first-degree murder.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to Shannon's family and members of the Lady Rattlers Basketball Team," said FAMU President James H. Ammons in a press release. "For Shannon to be killed in the prime of her life is tragic and senseless. She had so much promise as a student athlete. This is a great loss for the university and our athletic program."

"It is truly a trying situation to lose a student-athlete that has come to us to further her education and excel at her sport," said Florida A&M coach LeDawn Gibson. "As a coach, this is the kind of incident you just hope you never have to deal with -- the death of one of your players at such a young age."

Washington, a Sarasota, Fla., native, was a junior college transfer from Illinois Valley Community College where she scored 1,101 points and led the Eagles to two Region IV championships and two trips to the NJCAA championships. Washington also led IVCC with 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds a game and ranked 11th nationally in assists (5.3) and 17th in steals (3.5). In her two years at IVCC, Washington led the Eagles to a 57-12 record.

A memorial ceremony was to be held in her honor Sunday night.