HOUSTON — A Texas Southern University student was killed Thursday after being accidentally shot by another man in an apartment near the campus, authorities and school officials said.
The shooting occurred at about 11 p.m. CDT at Urban Academic Village, a student housing complex, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The victim’s name has not been released. The man’s roommate was showing a gun to him and a friend, police said. The gun was believed to be unloaded, but it discharged at some point, striking the victim in his torso, according to KTRK.
SAD story near TSU: @houstonpolice say a young man was accidentally shot and killed at a Rosewood St. apartment complex. On-air now with more on @KHOU pic.twitter.com/zHY50NGWNz
— Ugochi Iloka KHOU (@UgochiKHOU) April 8, 2022
According to Houston Police Department spokesperson Lt. R. Willkens, several people attempted to help the victim.
“(The man’s friends) immediately tried to help him, rendered first aid as best as they could,” Willkens told reporters. “They went downstairs fast, got him into a car, called 911. Other people tried to help.”
Paramedics with the Houston Fire Department transported the victim to an area hospital, where he died, the Chronicle reported.
“Really it’s just a horrible tragedy, so prayers for everyone involved,” Willkens told reporters.
According to KTRK-TV, the victim was a member of TSU’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band. The school confirmed that he was a senior at the university who played the trumpet in the marching band, was a fraternity member and was scheduled to graduate in December, according to KHOU-TV.
“This campus -- this Tiger family -- really is a family. It’s a very close-knit community, especially the Ocean of Soul, the marching band,” Tracy Clemons, the university’s vice president for marketing and communications, told the television station.
“The Texas Southern University family is saddened by an accidental shooting in campus housing overnight,” university officials said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victim whose life was lost. The safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority. This was an isolated and accidental incident.”
A private vigil was held for the victim on Friday night, and the band dedicated their performance at the spring football game in his memory, KTRK reported.
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