What we know about the shooting death of West Virginia State’s Jyilek Harrington
The college football world is in mourning this week after the tragic shooting death of a West Virginia State football player. This is what we know.
By all accounts the young man whose life was taken was an exemplary player and person which only serves to make his death all the more painful for those who remain. With details still emerging one can only reflect on the life that has been cut short.
West Virginia State’s Jyilek Harrington killed in shooting
There is harrowing news out of West Virginia this week after reports on Wednesday confirmed that West Virginia State football player Jyilek Harrington was killed in a shooting. Though details continue to emerge, it is understood that Harrington’s death is being investigated as the result of a home invasion. He was 21 years old.
Following his transfer from Carson-Newman earlier this year, Harrington became one of the senior members of the Yellow Jackets’ roster. It was fitting recognition for a player who had once played at Erskine College as well. Indeed, that was on show in the Division II program’s 27-24 season-opening win against Barton College during which he registered eight tackles.
“Jyilek truly embodied what it meant to be a student-athlete and was a leader not only on campus but in the community,” athletic director Nate Burton said in a statement. “The athletic department is creating a fund in memory of Jyilek, and all donations will be distributed to an organization in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, to finish his work.”
Regarding the terrible series of events that took place on Wednesday night, Charleston Police have stated that multiple gunshots were fired during a disturbance at an apartment complex, where Harrington was found with multiple wounds and declared dead at the scene. To date, there have been no suspects identified in the shooting. It is understood that West Virginia State will hold a moment of silence for Harrington before the program’s home opener on Thursday night against Harrington’s former school, Carson-Newman. “Carson-Newman joins West Virginia State in mourning the untimely passing of former student-athlete Jyilek Harrington,” Carson-Newman athletic director 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.”