LSU Basketball Forward Wayde Sims Suffers Gunshot Wound

College Basketball

LSU Basketball Forward Wayde Sims Suffers Gunshot Wound

Louisiana State (LSU) basketball forward Wayde Sims suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Traveling to his neck Friday morning, his passing occurred in his native city Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to local authorities.

20-year-old Sims was transported to a nearby hospital, succumbing to his injuries after Baton Rouge police arrived on scene around 12:30 a.m., as reported by The Advocate. It was just a block away from Southern University’s A.W. Mumford Stadium. The police officially released video footage, revealing the beginning of a confrontation. The situation between eight men, outside the location of an off-campus Southern University fraternity party, quickly escalated to physical fighting and eventual gunfire.

Shooter Identity?

Sargent L’Jean McKneely told The Advocate that police have identified the man. Wearing the white striped red pants, he is a person of interest. However, police have yet to name any suspects, looking to ID everyone present in the video for the purpose of questioning. Sims’ homicide comes on the heels of high praise from LSU men’s basketball head coach Will Wade, in reference to an offseason position change.

“Moving him around, were trying to solve the issue of having a bigger 3-man, and really, the last month or couple of weeks we’ve messed around with him at the 3,” Wade told Baton Rouge radio hosts Jordy Culotta and T-Bob Herbert. “He’s done a really nice job.”

While Sims’ development as a basketball player was pleasing for Wade, equally impressive is his personal growth and team culture.

“Its obviously a tough day. Its one of those days where we want to remember Wade, what a great person he was,” Wade said in a press conference Friday morning. “He was just an unbelievable person and continuing to grow and he has just done a great job building a bridge with our team.”

Beloved By Many

Sharing similar sentiments in regard to Sims’ character was LSU athletic director Joe Alleva shared.

“I personally knew him…,” Alleva said in a press conference Friday morning “Just a wonderful young man with [a] great smile and great spirit.”

The team shifts their focus from basketball to the grieving process, for a beloved member of the squad.

“All we can do now is focus on…being there for Wayde’s family and then being there for our players,” Wade said in the same press conference. “This is a coach’s worst nightmare.”

It turns out that there are also lessons other than those on the court.

“This is a terrible experience for everyone. At the end of the day, we need to make it a learning experience. Also, that our athletes are out there. They need to be careful everywhere they go,” Alleva finalized to wrap up to the press conference.

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Photo Credit: LSU Basketball via Twitter