Darius Lee Cause of Death Shocking: Was Houston Baptist Star Murdered?
Houston Baptist basketball star Darius Lee recently died, according to multiple news outlets. He was only 21.
The New York Police Department released a statement confirming that Lee was killed during a gunfire incident on Monday at a gathering in Harlem, New York City.
He was among the nine individuals who suffered gunshot wounds, but Lee was the only one who died after the incident.
As reported by The Daily Beast, NYPD officers responded to a call about a shooting at East 139 St. and Fifth Avenue at 12:40 a.m. Upon arrival, they saw five people suffering from gunshot wounds along FDR Highway and transported them to a local hospital.
Meanwhile, four other victims were also rushed to a medical facility to give the necessary treatments.
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell held a press conference on Monday morning, sharing the devastating news that killed Lee.
"It's Father's Day weekend. It's a weekend where people were supposed to be able to enjoy themselves with their families, but we're here to provide an update to New Yorkers about multiple people shot early this morning. The emboldened individuals responsible for this are exactly who our officers are battling every day to make our city safe," he said.
The victims were seven men and two women. Meanwhile, the male victim who died was later identified by a spokesperson for his college, disclosing that he was the 21-year-old basketball star.
Per the police, Lee was pronounced dead at the hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to his torso.
Darius Lee Honored After Untimely Passing
Lee's unexpected death indeed shocked Houston Baptist University and his basketball team.
The director of media relations for the Houston Baptist University athletics program, Jeff Sutton, said that Lee was a star on the team before his death. He noted that the upcoming season would have been the late athlete's senior year.
Meanwhile, the Houston Baptist University sent a separate statement to The Daily Beast and disclosed the achievements Lee received recently, including the Robbie Robertson Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
"He was a very fine young man who had a very bright future in front of him both on and off the court. This is unfortunately, yet again, another example of the senseless gun violence that seems to be plaguing our country right now and we all pray it will cease," HBU Director of Athletics Steve Moniaci said.
It remains unknown what caused the incident to occur. But one eyewitness divulged that it suddenly happened while she was in her living room.
New York Daily News added that the event was organized by a local rapper.