Houston Baptist ‘devastated’ by Darius Lee’s death

The Houston Baptist basketball system is “devastated” by the tragic death of Darius Lee, who died in a mass taking pictures in Harlem early Monday.

Lee was 1 of 9 men and women who was shot in the incident police mentioned that he was the only human being who died, and was not the meant goal in the capturing.

“We are devastated. Darius was a outstanding youthful male who liked the Lord, his mom, his spouse and children, his teammates, his mates and his whole HBU relatives,” head coach Ron Cottrell claimed in a assertion. “We are in shock and can not wrap our heads all around this information. My coronary heart breaks for his mother, his sister and his whole spouse and children, and for our basketball team. The only thing we find convenience in ideal now is being aware of where by Darius is. He is in the arms of Jesus… we know that as reality. And we will see him again some day.
 
“As fantastic of a basketball participant as he was, he was an even much better person. I can’t even believe of basketball correct now. I can only feel of what a mild Darius was all through his short time on earth. He was a joy to mentor and we loved him so considerably. Please preserve his mother, sister and family in your prayers, as perfectly as our HBU basketball spouse and children, all through this really tough time.”

Lee was Houston Baptist’s primary scorer and rebounder this past season, and was on observe to graduate this December.

“Our prayers are with his family members very first and most importantly, but also with his buddies, coaches, and teammates,” Houston Baptist athletics director Steve Moniaci mentioned in a statement.

“He was a really great youthful person who had a extremely vibrant foreseeable future in entrance of him each on and off the court. This is sadly, but all over again, another case in point of the senseless gun violence that would seem to be plaguing our country ideal now and we all pray it will stop.”

The 6-foot-6 guard performed at SUNY Sullivan Group Higher education right before he transferred to Houston Baptist.

“He was an innocent child that was in faculty playing basketball,” Lee’s sister, Tiara, instructed The Post in an previously story. “He cared about basketball. He made the decision to keep outside the house one working day, and this is what comes about.

“My brother’s absent,” she lamented. “Great child. He’s long gone for no rationale. I have been hoping to figure it out myself.”

Jorge Lopez, the mentor at St. Raymond Substantial School for Boys in The Bronx, in which Lee performed in substantial school, talked over getting “heartbroken” by the tragedy.

“When I 1st discovered out about it, I had listened to about the taking pictures in Harlem, but I was just so devastated when I came to locate out that Darius Lee was the victim who was killed,” Lopez stated.

“I’m entirely heartbroken,” Lopez added. “He experienced anything heading for him — a fantastic occupation, a fantastic spouse and children.

“He cherished coming again and checking younger people. He worked out with our guys, got to engage in decide-up with the players and just spend time with them.”