Lauren King
The Virginian-Pilot
©
HAMPTON
A tribute for a Hampton University basketball player who died after being accidentally shot early Saturday has been rescheduled to Thursday.
The university will host a public memorial service for team captain Theo Smalling at noon Thursday in its Convocation Center, according to a notice on the athletics Web site. A memorial had been planned for tonight, but it was canceled.
Smalling died Monday at 8:40 p.m., according to a statement posted on the Hampton University athletics Web site. He was 22.
“This is a devastating loss for our community,” Edward Buck Joyner, head coach of the team, said in a statement. “He was a great young man who was an asset 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.
The two men were outside Fusions Nightclub, The Associated Press was reporting.
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 was 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.
“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.”
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The Constitution needs to be thrown out?For someone that claims to be educated and have common sense,you certainly couldn't prove it with your post.Our Constitution can be changed.They are called amendments. BTW The second amendment was written to make sure the citizens could keep the government in check.Outdated?Never!
call it insensitive
but the reality is why are these people packing guns in the first place? I'll bet there is a gang connection somewhere just as there always is. This is the reality of ridiculousness.
A tragic loss.
My heart goes out to this young man's family and friends. My prayers for comfort are with you all.
My heart is also breaking for the young man who accidentally shot his friend. How devastating living with this tragedy will be for him.
How sad...
This guy was at the wrong place at the wrong time and now he's gone. Taken from his family and team and all his dreams. I hope the careless shooter pays for this. Praying for his family in this time of grief.
A painful truth
It is quite unfortunate that guns and African American males under 40 do not mix well. Statistics show a very low survival rate of young black males due to the continued escalation of gun violence. Because most will deny the above statements, or dismiss them as racist, the problem will only continue to get worse. An upcoming Hampton Roads' young black athlete has less a chance of survival than those on death row. An offender behind a gun in America's inner cities will be a young black male 9 out of 10 times, the victim will be the same description 8 out of 10 times, source DoJ. Where do we start? Acknowledge the painful truth, work to stabilize the families from which young black males come.
This story is about a young man's death
Take your gun control debate elsewhere. Some people will use any forum to stand on their soapbox --whether its pro or against guns. Why not just focus on the tragic loss of this young man's life? If this was your son, would you appreciate people being so callous and indifferent to the REAL issue here?
I know Dave means well.
Sorry, Ivy22, but I’m standing with Dave the Bud on this one. Though the timing may be somewhat awkward, and the fact that his figures may be questionable (even if they are from the DoJ), somebody need to step up and call it like it is. It is a sad testament that the Black male is an endangered species in this country, and even more sad that they are perpetrating this cancerous act among themselves. If the truth hurts, so be it, so much so, that we act to stop this kind of nonsense. I , too, sympathize with the family of the bereaved and all the others who feels the loss, but I’m angry also because I know that what Dave said is mostly true and we need to recognize in order to stop the madness.
Thank you
Thank you Arnold for acknowledging a hard truth to swallow. It's a start!
My thoughts and Prayers are with the family.....
I agree with the comments about staying home and you will live a long life. However, I don't believe that's the answer for this tradegy. Although he would be alive today, if he were home the other night. We and us adults should take some responsiblity in all of what has happen. It is all to often we take life for granted. God gave us all a wonderful life to live, sometimes free of hurt, pain, harm and fear. But, it's a wonderful life, regardless. Once we become fearless and fall from the graces of God, as most young and old adults, we lose sight of the wonderful blessings in life we have. The life we squander for whatever the reason, is a life less lived. I pray deeply for our communities that we all may open our eyes to what's happening around us. Be the person that will set the example for others to follow. Not the example that leads people to follow all the wrong choices in life.
Still wrong
If you happen to be in a 7-11 and some thug holds it up and then starts shooting witnesses to cover their tracks, pray that I'm the one standing in line behind you. Because I'll do my best to save your life (and mine) with my legally carried firearm. Even though you hate guns and think you can solve the problem of gun violence by taking that firearm away from a law-abiding citizen.