Utah Ty Jordan is dead, the school announced Saturday.
The Denton (Texas) police department told ESPN that its officers responded to a shooting call at 22:38 ET on Friday. Officers discovered a shot victim who had been shot. After life-saving measures were applied, the victim was transferred to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Rest in peace,. # 22.Always in our hearts.
We love you, Ty. pic.twitter.com/ZaXjWKg4Nc
– Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 26, 2020
“After a preliminary investigation, we believe it was an accidental shooting, in which the victim accidentally shot himself,” Denton Police Department Public Information Officer Allison Beckwith told ESPN.
Police did not identify the victim.
“On behalf of the entire University of Utah, our love and condolences to Ty Jordan’s family, friends, teammates and coaches. We are devastated by this heartbreaking news. Ty’s sight on the field was exciting with his athleticism and talent. Rest in peace, Ty, “Utah President Ruth V. Watkins said in a statement on Twitter.
Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said the team was devastated.
“Ty’s personality and smile were contagious and had a huge impact on our show in the short time he was with us,” Whittingham said in a statement on Saturday. “He leaves an indelible mark on each of us, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. From the bottom of our hearts, all of us at Utah Soccer Family want to say that we love you Ty and that you can rest in peace. “
Jordan, 19, a freshman in Mesquite, Texas, attended West Mesquite High and was named the Pac-12’s first offensive year after rushing 597 yards with six touchdowns on 83 carries. five games. He was named to the All-Pac-12 second team. He was fourth in the Pac-12 in yards and third in yards per game. Jordan was Utah’s first freshman to play three consecutive 100-yard rushing games since 1995.
In November 2019, a photo of Jordan and an opposing West Mesquite High player went viral. After Sherman High’s 56-27 victory over Mesquite West High, Sherman Gage Smith asked Jordan if he could kneel and pray together. Smith had learned that Jordan’s mother, Tiffany, was battling stage 4 lung and bone cancer.
Dear mother, I love you so much that you have shown me in the last few years how much you are a warrior. Guard me and guide my mother 💔💔 Rest in Paradise A real soldier! pic.twitter.com/ESoWShaRS9
– Ty Jordan ✌🏾 (@_ylfotyt) August 14, 2020
Jordan’s aunt posted photos of the moment on Facebook. “It made me cry,” Tiffany Smith told Today.com. “(Smith) didn’t have to do that. The fact that he took the time to pray with Ty for me took my breath away.”
Tiffany Jordan died in August, according to a tweet from Ty Jordan. He was 43 years old.
“We are deeply saddened and shocked to learn that Ty Jordan died early this morning, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who loved him dearly, including the young people in our football program,” said Mark Harlan of Utah. , in a statement on Saturday. “Our priority is to support his family and the student-athletes, coaches and staff of our football program who are suffering so much at the moment. Coach Whittingham and I are working closely to provide support and resources to our Utah football family in this extremely difficult situation. Time. “