Post by aggierob on Oct 27, 2009 6:22:19 GMT -5
Hampton University basketball player dies after shooting
HAMPTON
A Hampton University basketball player has died in a hospital after being accidentally shot early Saturday morning.
Team captain Theo Smalling died Monday at 8:40 p.m., according to a statement [1] posted on the Hampton University Athletics Web site. He was 22.
“This is a devastating loss for our community,” said Edward Buck Joyner, head coach of the team, in a statement. “He was a great young man who was an assest to Hampton University on and off the court. Not only was he the captain and leader of our team, but the backbone of our team. He will be with us in our hearts and minds when we step on the court.”
Police said in a statement released Monday morning that two men were in a parking lot in the 2000 block of W. Mercury Blvd. about 12:15 a.m. Saturday when one man mishandled a gun that fired and struck a 22-year-old man.
Dominique Devon Smith, 21, was charged with one count of reckless handling of a firearm, according to the police statement. Smith lives in the 5000 block of Goldsboro Drive.
Police referred to the shooting as an accident in the statement, released about 1 a.m. Monday.
Smalling was a senior sports management major and scheduled to graduate this spring, the Hampton University statement said.
He played in 91 games for the Pirates, making 76 career starts.
Smalling was born in Boston, but played high school basketball in Tampa, Fla., which he called home, the university statement said.
He is survived by his parents, Carl Smalling and Shelley George.
A tribute to Smalling will be held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on Mercury Blvd., during the university's Men’s and Women’s Basketball Radio Show. The tribute will also air live on WHOV 88.1 FM.
“Theo was the model for the term student athlete," Hampton University President William R. Harvey said in a statement. "He was a terrific student and an all-star athlete. In addition, he was actively involved in a great deal of community service. I and the Hampton University family will truly miss him.”
HAMPTON
A Hampton University basketball player has died in a hospital after being accidentally shot early Saturday morning.
Team captain Theo Smalling died Monday at 8:40 p.m., according to a statement [1] posted on the Hampton University Athletics Web site. He was 22.
“This is a devastating loss for our community,” said Edward Buck Joyner, head coach of the team, in a statement. “He was a great young man who was an assest to Hampton University on and off the court. Not only was he the captain and leader of our team, but the backbone of our team. He will be with us in our hearts and minds when we step on the court.”
Police said in a statement released Monday morning that two men were in a parking lot in the 2000 block of W. Mercury Blvd. about 12:15 a.m. Saturday when one man mishandled a gun that fired and struck a 22-year-old man.
Dominique Devon Smith, 21, was charged with one count of reckless handling of a firearm, according to the police statement. Smith lives in the 5000 block of Goldsboro Drive.
Police referred to the shooting as an accident in the statement, released about 1 a.m. Monday.
Smalling was a senior sports management major and scheduled to graduate this spring, the Hampton University statement said.
He played in 91 games for the Pirates, making 76 career starts.
Smalling was born in Boston, but played high school basketball in Tampa, Fla., which he called home, the university statement said.
He is survived by his parents, Carl Smalling and Shelley George.
A tribute to Smalling will be held on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on Mercury Blvd., during the university's Men’s and Women’s Basketball Radio Show. The tribute will also air live on WHOV 88.1 FM.
“Theo was the model for the term student athlete," Hampton University President William R. Harvey said in a statement. "He was a terrific student and an all-star athlete. In addition, he was actively involved in a great deal of community service. I and the Hampton University family will truly miss him.”
