On Christmas night, a tragic accident left one rising Utah football star dead.
What We Know:
- According to The Salt Lake Tribune, police responded to a shooting call on Friday at around 9 pm to the 1100 block of Avenue B in Denton, Texas. Upon arrival, officers found the victim of an accidental discharge wound, who was transported to Denton Regional Medical Center. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
- The victim was identified as 19-year-old Ty Jordan. The University of Utah freshman was a running back sensation for the Utes. Days before the incident, he was named the Pac-12 offensive freshman of the year, running 597 yards with six touchdowns on 83 carries in five games. He was the first Utah freshman to have three consecutive 100-yard rushing games since 1995.
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On Sunday, the medical examiner’s office in Tarrant County, Texas, said the young athlete died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. They announced the time of death to be 10:46 pm. The medical examiner has not yet ruled on the manner of death, despite the police calling the incident an accident.
- After receiving the devastating news, Utes coach Kyle Whittingham released a statement saying, “Ty’s personality and smile were infectious, and he made a huge impact on our program in the short time he was with us.”
“He leaves an indelible mark on each of us, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. From the bottom of our hearts, all of us in the Utah football family want to say, we love you, Ty, and may you rest in peace,” he continued.
- Jordan first gained national attention in November of 2019 when a video was taken off his high school team and visiting players praying on the field. The prayer was for Jordan’s mother, Tiffany Jordan, who had lost her battle to lung and bone cancer in mid-August. After the video went viral, Jordan told the media he always aspired to make his mother proud.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jordan’s family and friends during this challenging time.
