Print |
E-mail to a friend
ZZUNUSED
Arrest made in Newsome shooting
Donte Newsome, at the Amarillo Dusters press conference at Randy's, Wednesday, April 16, 2008.
Purchase this photo
HUNTINGTON -- Huntington police arrested a Charleston man Sunday afternoon in the shooting death of former Marshall football player Donte D. Newsome. Officers are now looking for another man who may have information about the incident that occurred early Saturday outside of a downtown night club.
Police Chief Skip Holbrook said investigators arrested Jerel Addison Garner, 26, about 1 p.m. Sunday after he was released from St. Mary's Medical Center. He was charged with first-degree murder and taken to the Western Regional Jail. He was not given a bond, Holbrook said.
Garner was shot multiple times during the altercation early Saturday that resulted in Newsome's death. It occurred outside of Fluid in the 600 block of 4th Avenue.
Holbrook declined to comment on speculation about the events that led to the altercation, but said investigators have no reason to believe that drugs were involved.
"There was a verbal exchange between the parties, and when they left the club, it escalated," he said.
Former Marshall football player Curtis Keyes, 24, also was shot in the altercation, but was treated and released from St. Mary's on Saturday. It is unclear who shot him, Holbrook said.
Police also were trying to determine Sunday afternoon who shot Garner, Holbrook said.
"We have an idea, but that's why we're looking for this person of interest," he said. "We're trying to corroborate additional information from this person, and we are asking for the public's help in providing any additional information."
Holbrook said police are withholding the name of the person of interest, but confirmed they are looking for a man. He also said this person of interest was involved in the altercation, "but not necessarily involved in Donte Newsome's death."
Newsome, 25, played running back and linebacker for the Thundering Herd between 2002-2005. A native of Chesapeake, Va., he also played at least two seasons with the Huntington Heroes indoor football team.
This year, Newsome was playing for the Amarillo Dusters of the Arena Football 2 league, where he had scored 11 touchdowns in eight games, according to the team's Web site.
