Shooting claims life of former North Carolina high school football player, cops say

Jyilek Harrington, a Charlotte, North Carolina, native and a senior on the West Virginia State University football team, was fatally shot in what police are investigating as a home invasion and homicide, according to a university statement.

Harrington was found inside an apartment with multiple gunshot wounds, Charleston Police told McClatchy News. Authorities said they attempted life-saving measures, but weren’t successful.

“Our community has suffered a great loss with the death of student-athlete Jyilek Harrington,” West Virginia State University officials said in a Facebook statement Sept. 12.

Police said they responded to a call at 8:38 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11, at an apartment complex in the 700 block of Regency Drive.

According to officials, there was a disturbance in an outside hallway and in the apartment,and multiple shots were fired.

The university’s athletic department set up a memorial fund in the student’s name, and all donations will be given to an organization in his hometown of Charlotte.

Harrington played football at Vance High School in Charlotte, which has since been renamed Chambers High.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

West Virginia State’s scheduled home opener against Carson-Newman, scheduled for Thursday night, was rescheduled for noon on Friday, the school said.