College football player shot, killed a day before game against former school
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ/Gray News) - The victim of a Wednesday night shooting in Charleston, West Virginia, has been identified as a 21-year-old college football athlete.
According to Charleston police, the victim of the fatal shooting was identified as Jyilek Harrington, of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Charleston police say officers responded to a disturbance call in the 700 block of Regency Drive on Wednesday after receiving reports that multiple gunshots were fired.
First responders found Harrington at the scene and attempted life-saving measures, but he died from his injuries.
According to a West Virginia State University spokesperson, Harrington was a senior at the college. He just transferred to the university this year and played inside linebacker for the football team.
“Jyilek was a senior member of the Yellow Jacket football team. He was an outstanding student-athlete and was a leader not only on our campus, but in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jyilek’s family as they mourn the loss of this incredible young man,” Ericke Cage, president of West Virginia State University, said in a release.
West Virginia State University was initially scheduled to play Carson-Newman University on Thursday, but the game was postponed to Friday at noon.
Harrington previously attended and played at Carson-Newman University before transferring to West Virginia State University.
“This was tragic and awful news to receive this morning,” Carson-Newman University head football coach Ashley Ingram said.
West Virginia State University vice president of intercollegiate athletics Nate Burton said the athletic department is creating a fund in memory of Jyilek.
“All donations will be distributed to an organization in his hometown of Charlotte to continue his work,” Burton said.
Donations to West Virginia State University memorial fund for Harrington can be made online.
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