West Virginia State linebacker's body found riddled with bullets hours before he was due to play former team

A West Virginia State football player was tragically shot and killed on Thursday, just moments before he was due to play against his former team. The university confirmed that the player died during a home invasion .

The ongoing police investigation revealed that Jyilek Zyiare Harrington's body was found in an apartment following reports from neighbours of multiple gunshots heard in a hallway and within the flat. Charleston police Lt. Tony Hazelett stated that upon arrival at the scene, they found 21-year-old Jyilek with several gunshot wounds, and he was declared dead at the scene.

West Virginia State President Ericke S. Cage expressed his condolences in a letter to students and faculty members, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Jyilek's family as they mourn the loss of this incredible young man," The University also made counselling services available to students and faculty on campus.

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Nate Burton, West Virginia State Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics, praised Jyilek for his character, stating, "Jyilek truly embodied what it means to be a student-athlete and was a leader not only on campus but in the community. Jyilek was a young man that, during Christmas, would create a GoFundMe to help less fortunate families."

Burton announced that following Jyilek's tragic passing, contributions to a fund set up by the athletic department in his memory will be given to a Charlotte-based organisation to carry on his charitable efforts, the Mirror US reported. After the news of the player's death emerged, both West Virginia and Carson-Newman University agreed to postpone their season opener until Friday.

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"Carson-Newman joins West Virginia State in mourning the untimely passing of former student-athlete Jyilek Harrington," said Carson-Newman's Vice President of Athletics Matt Pope 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."

This tragic event follows an incident where a teenager was shot in the face while trying to find the perfect location for homecoming photos. Police say the 17 year old from Colorado was accidentally shot by a city councilor of the town as he searched near the lake for the ideal photo spot.

Court documents reveal that the property owner's boyfriend discharged his firearm at the teen while exclaiming, "Oh s---, my gun went off."

The young man survived the ordeal and expressed to the authorities his belief that the shooting was indeed accidental.

Despite the teenager's assurances, police apprehended Brent Metz on suspicion of charges including first-degree assault. A mate of the victim later informed authorities that the unnamed lad had hopped over the fence on the property to ask the owner if he could snap some photos there.