A new member of the West Virginia State University football team was shot and killed just a day before his debut home opener — which was to be against his old teammates.
Jyilek Harrington, 21, was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds at an apartment in Charleston Wednesday night, West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported.
The incident is being investigated as a home invasion and homicide, university president Ericke S. Cage said while paying tribute to the “outstanding student-athlete.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jyilek’s family as they mourn the loss of this incredible young man,” Cage said in a letter to students and faculty.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native had only transferred to WSVU from Carson-Newman University of Jefferson City, Tennessee, at the start of the current semester.
He was set to play his old teammates at the Yellow Jacket’s home opener on Thursday evening, which was postponed so that both teams could participate in a private vigil.
The squads will face off at the rescheduled game set for Friday at noon.
Carson-Newman Vice President of Athletics Matt Pope said Harrington’s former school joins West Virginia State in mourning” the senior.
“News like this is sad to hear anytime, but today it feels worse with two teams who knew him coming together to play,” Pope said.
Before his home opener for his new team, Harrington had eight total tackles, including a sack, in a 27-24 win away at Barton College last week.
“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,” Cage said.
He was known for raising money to assist less fortunate families around the holidays every year, the school said.
On Thursday, the WSVU Athletic Department established a similar fundraiser in the student-athlete’s honor — one that had raised more than $4,400 in his honor by early Friday.
