HAMPTON STAR FELLED:

Hampton University basketball captain Theo Smalling, a 22-year-old senior from Tampa, Fla., was accidently shot just after midnight on Saturday morning in Hampton and died Monday night.

An announcement released by Hampton University Director of Relations, Yuri Rogers Milligan, said Smalling died at approximately 8:40 p.m.

According to The Hampton Free Press newspaper, Paula Ensley, spokeswoman for the Hampton Police Department, said Smalling was wounded in an accidental shooting just after midnight Saturday morning in the parking lot of Fusions Nightclub on West Mercury Boulevard in the city. He was with 21-year-old Dominique Devon Smith when Smith, according to Ensley, "mishandled a firearm and accidentally shot" Smalling in the abdomen. Smalling and Smith knew each other, Ensley said.

A call was made to the police after the shooting, Ensley said, and Smalling was picked up by ambulance in a parking lot off Power Plant Parkway. It's unclear why they were not in the location where the shooting occurred, Ensley said. There was a third person in the car who was the driver at the time of the shooting.

Smalling was transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News (Va.) where he died Monday night. His parents, Carl Smalling and Shelley George had come from Florida and were at the hospital at the time of his passing.

Smalling had turned 22 on Friday.

Smith has been charged with reckless handling of a firearm, a misdemeanor. Smith is being cooperative with police, Ensley said. Since Smalling did not survive his injuries, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office will determine whether to pursue additional charges.

"Theo was the model for the term student athlete. He was a terrific student and an all-star athlete. In addition, he was actively involved in a great deal of community service. I and the Hampton University family will truly miss him," said HU President Dr. William R. Harvey.

"This is a devastating loss for our community," said HU men's basketball head coach Ed Joyner. "He was a great young man who was an asset to Hampton University on and off the court. Not only was he the captain and leader of our team, but the backbone of our team. He will be with us in our hearts and minds when we step on the court."

Lonza Hardy Jr., athletic director added, "We are all deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Theo, a student athlete we saw grow and mature into an individual who made us all proud."

Smalling was part of former Hampton head coach Kevin Nickelberry's heralded first recruiting class that included then fellow freshmen forwards Matthew Pilgrim and Michael Freeman and was rated one of the top 50 classes in the nation. Smalling gained a reputation as a hard worker, tough defender and rebounder during his time on the court. He played in 91 games for the Pirates in three seasons starting in 76 and averaging 3.3 points and 5.2 rebounds for his career.

According to the release, a tribute to Smalling was to be held Tuesday during the HU men's and women's basketball radio show aired live on WHOV 88.1 FM.

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