College Basketball Star Darius Lee Dead At 21, Shot And Killed In New York

Houston Baptist Men’s Basketball Star Darius Lee was tragically shot and killed during a rally in New York on Monday, the university confirmed.

He was only 21 years old.

According to the NYPD, the shooting happened at what appeared to be a barbeque in Harlem around 12:40 p.m.

Officers said when they arrived at the scene following reports of gunshots, they found nine people – seven men and two women – with gunshot wounds.

Lee, who was identified by Houston Baptist as one of seven injured men, was taken to a nearby hospital after being hit in the chest by a bullet. He was unfortunately pronounced dead there, according to the cops.

Police say a gun was recovered from the site of the shooting, but no further details about the incident have been released. Cops say they haven’t made any arrests yet and an investigation is ongoing.

Houston Baptist officials mourned Lee’s death on Monday, along with the men’s basketball head coach Ron Cottrell calling the 6-foot-6, 230-pound wing “a remarkable young man”.

“We are in shock and cannot understand this news,” Cottrell said. “My heart breaks for his mother, his sister and all his family, and for our basketball team. The only thing that gives us comfort right now is knowing where Darius is. He is in the arms of Jesus…we know it as a fact. And we will see it again someday.”

Lee was Houston Baptist’s best player last season … averaging 18.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The rising eldest was due to graduate in December, the school said.

“As good a basketball player as he was, he was an even better person,” Cottrell said. “I can’t even think about basketball right now. I can only think how light Darius was during his short time on earth. He was a joy to coach and we loved him so much.”