Former Topeka All-City high school basketball player Malik J. Keith, 26, of Topeka, died Sunday after being shot early that morning in the 3100 block of S.E. Fremont.
No arrests had been made. Topeka police detectives said they were investigating
The 5-foot-10 Keith, who played for Highland Park High School, shared Player of the Year honors with Seaman High School's Ryan Zeferjahn while being named to The Capital-Journal's All-City Basketball Team for 2015-2016.
Shooting was reported shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday
Topeka police were called shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday to the shooting scene, where Keith was found to be suffering from life-threatening injuries, said Lt. Donna Eubanks, of the Topeka Police Department.
Fremont runs north and south and is located six blocks east of S.E. Adams Street.
Keith was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to a Topeka hospital, where he died.
Here is how to share tips with police
Keith was Topeka's 12th homicide victim this year.
Detectives asked anyone with information regarding Keith's death to email telltpd@topeka.org or call the criminal investigations bureau of the Topeka Police Department at 785-368-9400.
Anonymous tips may be made by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or providing tips online .
Keith averaged 17.3 points a game his senior year at Highland Park
Keith earned co-player of the year honors and made the All-City basketball first team as a senior, after being a second-team pick as a junior.
He led Highland Park to a 17-8 record and a fourth-place finish in Class 5A his senior year, scoring in double figures in 22 of 25 games and having nine games of 20 points or more. His season high was 28.
“His work ethic was just tremendous,” then-Highland Park basketball coach Jason Jones told The Capital-Journal in March 2016. “He put in the time, which a lot of kids aren't willing to do. I can't even imagine how many hours he spent in the gym, and not just playing. He worked on specific skills and really improved his ball-handling and shooting and all those things.”
Educator: Malik Keith was 'unforgettable'
Keith was "special," said Teresa Leslie-Canty, who worked with students at Highland Park when he attended that school and is now at Washburn University.
"When I worked at Highland Park there was never a time where he wouldn't flash that megawatt smile at me,' she told The Capital-Journal Monday.
Keith was "always respectful," and would help Leslie-Canty whenever she asked for assistance carrying items to and from her car, she said.
"To know Malik was to love him," she said.
Keith has touched a lot of people, and the community is feeling his loss, Leslie-Canty said.
"I wanted to add that I love all young people whose path I've crossed and yet there are some who are just unforgettable," she said. "Malik was that. Unforgettable."
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Former All-City basketball player Malik Keith, 26, fatally shot in southeast Topeka
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