Hampton Basketball Player Smalling Shot, Dies Of Wound

October 27, 2009 6:48 p.m. EST

Hampton, VA (AHN) - Hampton University basketball player Theo Smalling died Monday as a result of a gunshot wound sustained Saturday in a parking lot outside a nightclub. He was 22.

The Hampton Police Department referred to the shooting as an accident.

Smalling, the Pirates starting forward and team captain, was inside a car in the parking lot of Fusions Nightclub on West Mercury Boulevard with Dominique Devon Smith, 21, when the incident occurred.

According to the police, Smith allegedly "mishandled a firearm and accidentally shot" Smalling in the abdomen early Saturday, a day after his 22nd birthday.

The wounded player was picked up by an ambulance after the police received a call following the shooting.

Apart from a misdemeanor charge of reckless handling of a firearm, Smith could also face additional charges since Smalling did not survive his injuries.

A statement on the University's Web site called Smalling a victim of a "senseless accident."

The former Bloomingdale High basketball star registered over 70 starts for the Div. I Hampton University in 91 contests.

For his career, he averaged 3.3 points and 5.2 boards per contest for the Pirates.