Corey Ballentine Injured by Friend of New York Giants

Corey Ballentine, the sixth-round pick of the New York Giants, was injured in a shootout during which his teammate at the university, Dwane Simmons, was killed.

The shooting occurred "off campus" in Topeka, Kansas early Sunday.

The two men, both 23, played for Washburn Ichabods, but Ballentine – who is expected to recover fully – had just been selected for the NFL draft.

University president Jerry Farley said it was "a terrible way" to end a day that should have been a "celebration".

Dr. Farley added that this day was supposed to be "a day of waiting for the coming year from Dwane to Washburn and the beginning of Corey's professional career".

In a statement, the giants said they were "aware of the tragic situation and continue to gather information".

"We talked to Corey and he goes back to the hospital, our thoughts are with Dwane Simmons' family," the Giants added.

A press conference scheduled with the Ballentine corner half at 3 pm local time has been postponed to a later date, said Washburn University.

Ichabods head coach Craig Schurig said, "The infectious smile and Dwane's love for football and his teammates were really inspiring."

The NFL draft is one of the largest sports events in the United States, with 32 teams selecting new talent from the US college system.

The repechage gives the underperforming teams the opportunity to choose the best new talent in the league. The Arizona Cardinals, this year's worst team, are the first to be chosen.