West Virginia State University football player shot, killed in Charleston

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — The Charleston Police Department has identified the victim in Wednesday night’s fatal Charleston shooting as a West Virginia State University football player.

Police said they found Jyilek Harrington, 21, of Charlotte, North Carolina, with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the WVSU football roster, Harrington is a senior and a linebacker.

The Charleston Police Department said a disturbance happened in the hallway and inside an apartment in the 700 block of Regency Drive just after 8:30 p.m. During this, multiple gunshots were fired.

As of Thursday morning, there is no suspect description or information. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Charleston PD’s Criminal Investigation Division at 304-348-6480 or dispatchers at 304-348-8111.

Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Nate Burton said Harrington, “truly embodied what it means to be a student-athlete and was a leader not only on campus but in the community” Burton said he would set up a GoFundMe for less fortunate families around the holidays.

What was supposed to be Thursday night’s game against Carson-Newman University—where Harrington used to play—has now pivoted. They are now using it as a time to reflect on Harrington’s impact as a person.

“Carson-Newman joins West Virginia State in mourning the untimely passing of former student-athlete Jyilek Harrington,” Carson-Newman’s Vice President of Athletics Matt Pope said in a statement. “The Harrington family and the Yellow Jackets’ campus community is in our prayers. News like this is sad to hear anytime, but today it feels worse with two teams who knew him coming together to play.”

The university said counseling is available for students on the first floor of Sullivan Hall East. That office can be reached at 304-766-3168 or counseling@wvstateu.edu.

A memorial fund has been set up in Harrington’s memory. You can donate by clicking here .

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