New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones has died of a gunshot wound, authorities confirmed.
Reports state the rookie baller was shot around 3:20 a.m. Saturday after breaking down a door to a Dallas apartment. According to police, Dejean-Jones knocked down the apartment’s front door and then kicked through the bedroom door. That’s when the resident fired the handgun.
Dejean-Jones collapsed in a hallway and was rushed to the hospital, where he died. Police said the athlete and the resident appear to have not known each other.
The 23-year-old signed a three-year contract with the Pelicans in February and played 11 out of 14 games before sitting out of the season with an injury to his wrist.
Dejean-Jones wore Nike sneakers during his brief run with the team, and on his social media pages he shared his fondness for Air Jordan sneakers.
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The Pelicans expressed “deep sadness” in a statement released on Saturday. “We are devastated at the loss of this young man’s life who had such a promising future ahead of him,” the statement continued. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce’s family during this difficult time.”
Please keep Bryce’s family and friends in your prayers during this difficult time https://t.co/5DCXUOFL0I pic.twitter.com/HToZJ4tRSu
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) May 28, 2016
