Deaths in Auburn University shooting embody 2 ex-football players
June eleven (Bloomberg) -- 2 former Auburn University soccer players were among 3 individuals killed in an off-campus shooting over the weekend that left 3 others hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Ladarious Phillips of Roanoke, Alabama, and Ed Christian of Valdosta, Georgia, were killed when a gunman opened hearth following a June nine fight at an apartment complicated in Auburn, Alabama, police said. each were twenty years recent, as was the third one who died, Demario Pitts of Opelika, Alabama.
Three further victims were taken to East Alabama Medical Center for treatment of gunshot wounds, as well as Eric Mack, a sophomore offensive lineman for the Tigers. The shooter, who fled the scene during a vehicle with 2 others, remains at massive, Auburn police said.
"The solely association that the Auburn soccer team must this is often they're the victims of a brutal shooting," Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said at a news conference. "Sometimes the young men get a foul rap, I feel like, however they're the victims."
Dawson said police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and also the U.S. Marshal's Service are attempting to seek out Desmonte Leonard, 22, of Montgomery, Alabama, who is needed on 3 warrants for capital murder. His vehicle was found abandoned.
Phillips was a fullback for Auburn last season, whereas Christian didn't play soccer owing to a back injury.
"This may be a unhappy, unhappy day for everybody related to the complete Auburn family," Tigers coach Gene Chizik said during a statement. "I am devastated by the passing of 3 young men, as well as 2 that I personally knew in Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips and my heart goes out to their families."
Chizik said Mack is anticipated to form a full recovery.
Auburn University shooting: Suspect Desmonte Leonard on the lam, facing three counts murder
Investigators were looking out Sunday for a gunman who killed 3 individuals — as well as 2 former Auburn University soccer players — and wounded 3 others at a pool party close to campus once many men dawned a fight over a lady, authorities and witnesses said.
One of the wounded was shot within the head and critically hurt. Another was a current player, Eric Mack.
Desmonte Leonard opened hearth at the Saturday night party at an apartment complicated close to the university, Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said. Federal marshals and police were looking for Leonard, who faces 3 counts of capital murder.
Slain were Edward Christian, who had not been enjoying owing to a back injury, and Ladarious Phillips, who had previously quit enjoying soccer. the opposite person killed was 20-year-old Demario Pitts.
Officials conjointly said Xavier Moss and John Robertson were wounded. Robertson had been shot within the head and was in crucial condition; Moss was released from the hospital.
Police stressed that the shootings did not seem to own something to try to to with a number of the victims being former or current players on the university's powerhouse soccer team, that won the national championship in 2010.
"The solely association that the Auburn soccer team must this is often they're victims of a brutal shooting. typically the young men get a foul rap, I feel like, however they're the victims these days," Dawson said.
Police urged the suspect to show himself in. Authorities are looking for 2 different persons of interest.
Dawson said he failed to recognize why the party was being held or what sparked the fight.
"Them being soccer players extremely has nothing to try to to with this. they are victims of a shooting," Dawson said.
Turquorius Vines, 23, said he was at the pool party Saturday evening at the University Heights residences with one amongst his friends, Pitts. He said he and his friend were approached by 2 different men who started arguing with them over a lady.
Vines said he punched one amongst the lads, whereas Pitts hit each of the lads over the top with a bottle. Either one or each of the 2 men then started shooting, he said. He said Pitts was shot and killed, whereas 2 others conjointly were hit by gunfire. Vines said he had never met the lads he was arguing with.
"It's like I lost a lung," Vines said of losing his friend. "I do not know how i am getting to survive this."
Auburn police investigate a shooting at the University Heights apartment complicated in Auburn, Alabama, June 10, 2012.
(Credit: AP)
Several emergency vehicles converged overnight round the University Heights apartment complicated where several students live. The building was swathed in yellow police tape.
It appeared that the shooting happened in an archway close to the apartment complicated data center, close to the sting of the automobile parking space. 5 uniformed officers guarded the world, that was sealed off with crime scene tape, and one or two of crime scene investigators were at work.
Mack, the wounded player, may be a junior offensive lineman from St. Matthews, S.C. He played in 5 games last season. Coach Gene Chizik said Mack was expected to form a full recovery.
Christian is an offensive lineman who was out last season whereas addressing a back injury. Phillips was a backup fullback. Chizik said in April that Phillips had set to provide up soccer.
A person who answered the phone at the house of Phillips' mother declined comment and said his family was too distraught to comment.
"Nobody ought to ever got to endure such unimaginable grief, and that we can love and support the victims' families throughout this very tough time," Chizik said. "We have lots of individuals on our soccer team that are hurting straight away and we're getting to do everything we are able to to assist them get through this."
June eleven (Bloomberg) -- 2 former Auburn University soccer players were among 3 individuals killed in an off-campus shooting over the weekend that left 3 others hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Ladarious Phillips of Roanoke, Alabama, and Ed Christian of Valdosta, Georgia, were killed when a gunman opened hearth following a June nine fight at an apartment complicated in Auburn, Alabama, police said. each were twenty years recent, as was the third one who died, Demario Pitts of Opelika, Alabama.
Three further victims were taken to East Alabama Medical Center for treatment of gunshot wounds, as well as Eric Mack, a sophomore offensive lineman for the Tigers. The shooter, who fled the scene during a vehicle with 2 others, remains at massive, Auburn police said.
"The solely association that the Auburn soccer team must this is often they're the victims of a brutal shooting," Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said at a news conference. "Sometimes the young men get a foul rap, I feel like, however they're the victims."
Dawson said police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and also the U.S. Marshal's Service are attempting to seek out Desmonte Leonard, 22, of Montgomery, Alabama, who is needed on 3 warrants for capital murder. His vehicle was found abandoned.
Phillips was a fullback for Auburn last season, whereas Christian didn't play soccer owing to a back injury.
"This may be a unhappy, unhappy day for everybody related to the complete Auburn family," Tigers coach Gene Chizik said during a statement. "I am devastated by the passing of 3 young men, as well as 2 that I personally knew in Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips and my heart goes out to their families."
Chizik said Mack is anticipated to form a full recovery.
Auburn University shooting: Suspect Desmonte Leonard on the lam, facing three counts murder
Investigators were looking out Sunday for a gunman who killed 3 individuals — as well as 2 former Auburn University soccer players — and wounded 3 others at a pool party close to campus once many men dawned a fight over a lady, authorities and witnesses said.
One of the wounded was shot within the head and critically hurt. Another was a current player, Eric Mack.
Desmonte Leonard opened hearth at the Saturday night party at an apartment complicated close to the university, Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said. Federal marshals and police were looking for Leonard, who faces 3 counts of capital murder.
Slain were Edward Christian, who had not been enjoying owing to a back injury, and Ladarious Phillips, who had previously quit enjoying soccer. the opposite person killed was 20-year-old Demario Pitts.
Officials conjointly said Xavier Moss and John Robertson were wounded. Robertson had been shot within the head and was in crucial condition; Moss was released from the hospital.
Police stressed that the shootings did not seem to own something to try to to with a number of the victims being former or current players on the university's powerhouse soccer team, that won the national championship in 2010.
"The solely association that the Auburn soccer team must this is often they're victims of a brutal shooting. typically the young men get a foul rap, I feel like, however they're the victims these days," Dawson said.
Police urged the suspect to show himself in. Authorities are looking for 2 different persons of interest.
Dawson said he failed to recognize why the party was being held or what sparked the fight.
"Them being soccer players extremely has nothing to try to to with this. they are victims of a shooting," Dawson said.
Turquorius Vines, 23, said he was at the pool party Saturday evening at the University Heights residences with one amongst his friends, Pitts. He said he and his friend were approached by 2 different men who started arguing with them over a lady.
Vines said he punched one amongst the lads, whereas Pitts hit each of the lads over the top with a bottle. Either one or each of the 2 men then started shooting, he said. He said Pitts was shot and killed, whereas 2 others conjointly were hit by gunfire. Vines said he had never met the lads he was arguing with.
"It's like I lost a lung," Vines said of losing his friend. "I do not know how i am getting to survive this."
Auburn police investigate a shooting at the University Heights apartment complicated in Auburn, Alabama, June 10, 2012.
(Credit: AP)
Several emergency vehicles converged overnight round the University Heights apartment complicated where several students live. The building was swathed in yellow police tape.
It appeared that the shooting happened in an archway close to the apartment complicated data center, close to the sting of the automobile parking space. 5 uniformed officers guarded the world, that was sealed off with crime scene tape, and one or two of crime scene investigators were at work.
Mack, the wounded player, may be a junior offensive lineman from St. Matthews, S.C. He played in 5 games last season. Coach Gene Chizik said Mack was expected to form a full recovery.
Christian is an offensive lineman who was out last season whereas addressing a back injury. Phillips was a backup fullback. Chizik said in April that Phillips had set to provide up soccer.
A person who answered the phone at the house of Phillips' mother declined comment and said his family was too distraught to comment.
"Nobody ought to ever got to endure such unimaginable grief, and that we can love and support the victims' families throughout this very tough time," Chizik said. "We have lots of individuals on our soccer team that are hurting straight away and we're getting to do everything we are able to to assist them get through this."
