http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5082387.html A high school football standout who had accepted a scholarship offer to play for the University of Oklahoma next year was gunned down in the parking lot of a northwest Harris County apartment complex Friday afternoon. Herman Mitchell, 17, was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital after another teen shot him multiple times, said Sgt. Bryan Pair of the Harris County Sheriff's Office homicide division. Authorities have charged 19-year-old Emile "Rusty" Lewis of Louisiana with Mitchell's murder, Pair said. Lewis, who was taken into custody after the shooting, is being held in a Harris County jail, he said. Mitchell, 6-0 and 200 pounds, played linebacker for Westfield High School, and had verbally committed to play at Oklahoma next year. He was a first-team all-district selection on the Mustangs, who were 13-1 last season and were Class 5A Division I Region II semifinalists. He was the team's top returning tackler, recording 115 tackles and two sacks last season. Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops is aware of Mitchell's death and "obviously upset about the news," school spokesman Kenny Mossman said. "When I spoke with Bob tonight, he was really stunned. It was a blow to him," Mossman said. Witnesses say Mitchell and three friends were leaving his apartment in the 14300 block of Cornerstone Village Drive on their way to nearby Westfield about 4:30 p.m. when Mitchell saw Lewis in the parking lot and "exchanged looks" with him, Pair said. "Apparently they were friends at one time or another," Pair said, and he added that he didn't know what started the argument. A fist fight broke out in the parking lot, Pair said. "Then the suspect ran to his apartment and came back with a rifle and that's when he shot Mitchell," he said. Deputies responding to the shooting at the Trestles apartment complex immediately began searching the area, Pair said. "They found a young man matching the suspect's description and brought him back to the scene, where he was identified by witnesses," he said. Investigators took Lewis to the homicide squad's headquarters on Lockwood for questioning. Several hours later, he was charged with murder, Pair said.
I'd seen that and what I can't understand is why he wasn't with his team at the scrimmage. Stories of any kid having their time cut short is sad and when it's one with so much to offer, seem worse. That precious lil Jean Bonnet comes to mind. Like always, death is harder for the living and I hate to think of the pain his coaches/teammates will feel when they see that empty locker, take the field without him, etc.
