HICKORY — Omari Alexander, a tight end for the Lenoir-Rhyne football team was shot and killed early Saturday outside of an apartment complex in, just hours after his team’s season-ending loss, officials said.
According to WBTV-TV, the 19-year-old was shot multiple times while he sat in the driver’s seat of a black 2015 Chevrolet Camaro in Hickory. Officers found him around 12:50 a.m. with the engine still running in the parking lot of an apartment complex.
Alexander was a freshman from Charlotte and went to high school at Mallard Creek, according to Lenoir-Rhyne’s official website.
Lenoir-Rhyne President Fred Whitt sent an email to the school’s community around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday to tell them of Alexander’s death. The Bears (8-3) were beaten by Bowie State 31-10 in the opening round of the Division II playoffs Saturday afternoon in Maryland.
“Omari was a special young man who had a bright future. He will always be remembered fondly by his teammates and the LR community,” Kim Pate, vice president for athletics, said in a statement released by the university.
Grief counseling will be made available for students and staff. A memorial service for Alexander is being planned for Monday at 10 a.m.
