Police have arrested Markale Deandra Hart, 22, and charged him with felony murder in the shooting death of Jakell Mitchell, a freshman football player at Auburn University.
Auburn Police Capt. Will Matthews confirmed to the Associated Press law enforcement responded to the shooting at 12:25 a.m. Sunday at the Tiger Loge apartment complex. Mitchell, 18, was pronounced dead later at the hospital.
The police found Hart around 10:45 a.m. Sunday and was taken to Lee County jail where he is being held on $150,000 bond, Auburn Police Chief Paul Register told USA Today. Hart does not have an arraignment date at this time.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jakell's family and friends. Auburn encourages those in need to contact the Division of Student Affairs.
— Auburn University (@AuburnU) December 14, 2014
Mitchell was a freshman running back who did not play this season due to being redshirted.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jakell Mitchell's family and those who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy," Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said in a statement. "This is a very trying time for those close to Jakell, including the student-athletes, coaches, staff and Auburn Family. We will provide counseling and support and do everything we can to help them through the grieving process."
The Auburn Family is grieving the loss of a teammate & friend Jakell Mitchell. We are praying for his family. pic.twitter.com/ZC5PP2nJ6u — Jay Jacobs (@jayjacobsauad) December 14, 2014
Matthews said in a statement there are no more arrests expected and he also did not elaborate on how Hart was located and apprehended. An autopsy is scheduled to take place in Montgomery, Ala., but Mitchell suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his chest.
Numerous members of the Auburn Tigers football team and some students at the school visited the site where the young football player was shot, the AP reported.
"I couldn't believe it," Jeremy Johnson, a backup quarterback on the team, said, reportedly fighting back tears. "Jakell was a real good kid."
"I'm devastated and saddened by the passing of Jakell Mitchell," Auburn head football coach Gus Malzahn said in the statement. "My thoughts and prayers are with Jakell's family and friends, who are suffering through this senseless tragedy. I know the Auburn family is hurting, especially our players and coaches, and we are going to love and support them through this difficult time. We have lost a member of our family too young, too soon."
