LSU basketball player Wayde Sims was just hours away from the court for the first official Tigers practice of his junior year, when he was shot and killed in a fight several kilometers from the campus.
Friday was the day when LSU basketball coach Will Wade was hoping to start a season in his high intensity style, but it took a tragic turn before a player took part in the match. .
The 20-year-old native of Baton Rouge, who had so often embodied the energy that Wade wanted from all his players, will never be able to wear his No. 44 jersey or hear the roar of a Pete assembly center. Maravich. He would never again laugh his teammates in full training.
"All members of the team loved him," Wade said Friday morning at a press conference. "It was the joker of the team, the joker of the team. He was still smiling and hopping. He put us into practice. "
Wade canceled Friday's practice. Instead, the university provided grief counselors to Sims' teammates and friends.
"We will not worry about basketball right now," said Wade. "We have a lot of bigger problems than basketball. Everyone is crying differently. … We have started the process this morning and will continue it as long as necessary. "
Early Friday morning, outside a fraternity party near the South University Campus, an argument quickly turned into a fight and, just after midnight, Baton's police spokesman Red, Sgt. Jean McKneely said. Sims fell. Everyone ran.
Sims died later in a hospital, said McKneely. On Friday, an autopsy revealed that Sims had succumbed to a gunshot to the head that had hit him on the neck, said Dr. Beau Clark, East Baton Rouge coroner.
[[[[RELATED: Wayde Sims Fire Fighting Video police ask for help with identity cards]
Police responded to the shooting around 12:30 pm near a Subway restaurant in the 600 block of Harding Boulevard, about a block away from Southern AW. Mumford Stadium.
At least two viewers watched the video and, although the two men shared the footage with the police, no one was arrested or detained from Friday night.
Photo of TRAVIS SPRADLING's Lawyer Staff – Wayde Sims, right, Wayne Sims' son, former LSU basketball player, smiles while posing for photo with Kathleen Richard, his English teacher, before signing high gym.
Photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING's Lawyer Staff – Wayde Sims, center, the son of former LSU basketball player Wayne Sims, smiled before signing Wednesday to play with LSU. Wayde's mother, Fay Sims, is right.
Photo of TRAVIS SPRADLING's lawyer staff – Wayde Sims, center, son of Wayne Sims, former LSU basketball player, smiles for photos after signing on Wednesday to play with LSU. Wayde's mother, Fay Sims, is right.
Photo of Lawyer Staff by TRAVIS SPRADLING – Wayde Sims, son of former LSU basketball player Wayne Sims, signs Wednesday to play with LSU during a ceremony at the University High gymnasium .
Photo of Lawyer Staff by TRAVIS SPRADLING – Wayde Sims, son of former LSU basketball player Wayne Sims, signs Wednesday to play with LSU during a ceremony at the University High gymnasium .
Photo of Lawyer Staff by TRAVIS SPRADLING – Wayde Sims, son of former LSU basketball player Wayne Sims, signs Wednesday to play with LSU during a ceremony at the University High gymnasium .
Photo of lawyer's staff by TRAVIS SPRADLING – Way of Sims, the son of Wayne LSU, LSU's great basketball player, smiles before signing Wednesday to play with LSU at a ceremony at University High's gymnasium .
Photo of TRAVIS SPRADLING's Lawyer Staff – Way of Sims, son of Wayne LSU, former LSU basketball player, wears a LSU hat after signing with LSU on Wednesday at a ceremony at the University Gymnasium High.
Photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING's Lawyer Staff – Wayde Sims, center, LSU former basketball player Wayne Sims' son, left, signs ceremony Wednesday at University High. Wayde's mother, Fay Sims, is right.
Photo of Lawyer by Buddy Delahoussaye – Wayde Sims (44) for ULab goes to the basket for both points while University Lab faces Lafayette Christian Academy on Friday, December 18, 2015.
Photo of Lawyer by Buddy Delahoussaye– Wayde Sims at Free Throws Line on Friday, December 18, 2015.
Photo of Buddy Delahoussaye's defender – Wayde Sims for University Lab who will perform at the University when the University Lab will play at Lafayette Christian Academy on Friday, December 18, 2015.
Photo of HILARY SCHEINUK's Lawyer Staff – Glen Oaks' Dontrell McQuarter faces University High's Wayde Sims Friday at U-High.
Photo of Lawyer by Buddy Delahoussaye – U-High's Wayde Sims fires a shot at St. Louis in the Class 3A semifinal at the top 28 boys' tournament Wednesday night at Lake Charles. U-High won 71-57.
Photo of Lawyer by Buddy Delahoussaye– Wayde Sims at the free throw line for the Cubs on Wednesday at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
Photo defended by Buddy Delahoussaye – Eric Reed plans to pass the ball to teammate Wayde Sims in the 3A semi-final at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
Photo Defender by Buddy Delahoussaye– The Sims' Way Cubs rise to the surface during the first half of the Top 3A's 28 Best Boys Championship game between University Lab and Wossman on March 12, 2016 at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
Photo of Lawyer by Buddy Delahoussaye – Cubs head coach Joe Spencer talks with his star player Wayde Sims during a break Wednesday at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
LSU striker Duop Reath (1) and LSU Way forwarded Sims (44) defend against UL-Lafayette striker Frank Bartley IV (4) on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in the first Invitational tournament tour at Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
Striker LSU Wayde Sims (44) blocks the attempted defeat of UL-Lafayette striker JaKeenan Gant (23) on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in the first round of the tournament. 39, national invitation to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center Baton Rouge.
Marcus Stroman, 35, holds the ball in front of LSU Wayde Sims (44) on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.
LSU striker Wayde Sims (44) battles forward Vanderbilt striker Jeff Roberson (11) in a match on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 in Baton Rouge, LA.
Vanderbilt striker Jeff Roberson (11) passes LSU Wayde Sims (44) on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, The LSU won 88-78.
LSU head coach Will Wade welcomes forward LSU Wayde Sims (44) in a match against Vanderbilt on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at the Pete Assembly Center. Maravich from LSU to Baton Rouge.
LSU Wayde Sims (44) striker beat 15-year-old Vanderbilt striker Clevon Brown and 11-year-old Vanderbilt striker Jeff Roberson on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.
Official fouls Vanderbilt guard Saben Lee (0) as his arm hangs on LSU Wayde Sims (44) during lay-up attempt, Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center of LSU in Baton Rouge.
LSU forward Wayde Sims (44) passed the decree in front of 14-year-old Missouri striker Reed Nikko on Saturday, February 17, 2018, at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA.
LSU Wayde Sims striker faces center Alabama's Daniel Giddens for a rebound in the first half of Tuesday's game at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Auburn guard Jared Harper (1) strikes forward LSU Wayde Sims (44) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Saturday, January 27, 2018 in Auburn, Ala. Auburn beat the LSU 95-70. (AP Photo / Albert Cesare) ORG XMIT: ALAC118
LSU head coach Will Wade welcomes LSU Wayde Sims' 44-year-old striker as he returns to the bench against Texas A & M on Tuesday, January 23, 2018. Pete Maravich Assembly Center of LSU in Baton Rouge.
LSU Wayde Sims (44) striker passes Georgian striker Derek Ogbeide (34) in the first half, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.
LSU Wayde Sims striker (44) tries to block the shot by three points of Kentucky guard Hamidou Diallo (3) in the second half of the Wildcats' victory over the Tigers on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at Assembly of Pete Maravich Center in Baton Rouge, La.
Wenyen Gabriel (32) and Wayde Sims (44) of Kentucky will bounce back in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky (AP Photo / James Crisp) . XMIT: KYJC106
LSU Wayde Sims player blocks the area under the basket while Sam Houston's John Dewey III tries to find a way to shoot in the first half of LSU's 80-58 win over Sam Houston State on Tuesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU led38-29 at half.
Wayde Sims (44), of the LSU, made a defensive rebound in the first half of LSU's 80-58 win over Sam Houston State Tuesday in LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU led38-29 at half.
Wayde Sims, 44, of LSU, made the first double-double of his two-year university career when he scored 10 points and added 10 rebounds in an 80-58 win over Sam Houston State on Tuesday night.
Stephen F. Austin, forward Samuli Nieminen (24) and forward LSU Wayde Sims (44) compete for ball control on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA .
LSU Wayde Sims (44) striker defends Stephen F. Austin goalkeeper Ty Charles (4) on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge. The.
LSU Wayde Sims striker (44) dismissed the ball from striker Jailen Gill of Tennessee-Martin (30) and guard Tennessee-Martin DelFincko Bogan (2) on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Center D & L Pete Maravich assembly from LSU to Baton Rouge. .
LSU guard Tremont Waters, left, and striker Wayde Sims, right, surround Michigan Charles Matthews in the Wolverines Tigers' win at the Maui tournament last month. This kind of defensive effort has been rare, however, as coach Will Wade has played so far this season. (AP Photo / Marco Garcia) ORG XMIT: HIMG168
LSU striker Wayde Sims (44) and Michigan striker Moritz Wagner (13) are both trying to bounce back in the first half of a college basketball game from the United States. NCAA Monday, November 20, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo / Marco Garcia) ORG XMIT: HIMG174
LSU Wayde Sims striker (44), Samford Demetrius Denzel-Dyson's guard (22), LSU Duop Reath striker (1) and Samford striker Stefan Lakic (15) compete for the rebound, Thursday, November 16, 2017 at Pete Maravich of the LSU Editing Center in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU Wayde Sims (44) striker is injured by Samford striker Eric Adams (13) during the attempted robbery on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA .
A weakened LSU forward, Wayde Sims (44), establishes his position and calls the ball during the preliminary rounds last month.
Wayde Sims (44), of the LSU, shot in the first half of LSU's 92-82 win over Tennessee Wednesday at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
After playing his first season at 220 pounds, LSU Way's Sims (44) striker reduced his body fat and replaced it with muscle mass to help him tackle bigger and stronger players. (File photo by John Kelley / UGA)
Mississippi striker Sebastian Saiz (11), striker LSU Wayde Sims (44) and Mississippi guard Terence Davis (3) visit the Pavilion at Ole Miss, Oxford, USA. Missouri, Tuesday, February 14, 2017. Newman, Oxford Eagle via AP)
LSU Wayde Sims (44) striker rises for the rebound with LSU Duop Reath striker (1), ahead of Arkansas's Arlando Cook (5) and the No. 39. Arkansas striker Adrio Bailey (2) in first half, Saturday, February 10, 2017 at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU Wayde Sims (44) striker rises for rebound with striker Dustin Thomas (13) of Arkansas in the first half, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the center of ###. Pete Maravich's assembly from LSU to Baton Rouge.
LSU striker Wayde Sims (44) and Arkansas skipper Anton Beard (31) pursue a ball outside the first half, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the Center. assembly Pete Maravich from LSU to Baton Rouge.
Striker Moses Kingsley (33) from Arkansas strive to beat LSU Wayde Sims (44) and LSU forward Duop Reath (1) in the first half, Saturday, February 10, 2017 at Pete Maravich Assembly Center of LSU in Baton Rouge.
LSU striker Wayde Sims (44) is fighting at the start of the first half against Texas A & M on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at LSU's Ponce Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Maryland.
LSU first-year striker Wayde Sims, who defeated Alabama on Jan. 15, made his team's 11 attempts in the last three Tigers and scored 51.7 percent for the season.
LSU Wayde Sims' (44) striker is struggling to keep the ball while he is defended by forward Shannon Hale (11), left, and the keeper of the ball. Alabama Corban Collins (3), Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center of LSU. Baton Rouge, The.
LSU Wayde Sims' (44) striker is struggling to keep the ball while he is defended by forward Shannon Hale (11), left, and the keeper of the ball. Alabama Corban Collins (3), Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center of LSU. Baton Rouge, The.
Striker LSU Wayde Sims (44) in action earlier this season against Texas A & M
LSU Wayde Sims (44) striker leads Mississippi striker Aric Holman (35) and Mississippi state Tyson Carter (23) on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on campus. LSU at Baton Rouge.
LSU striker, Wayde Sims (44), flies over the Mississippi State Center, Schnider Herard (34 years old), Saturday, January 7, 2017, at the Pete Maravich Rally Center, on campus. LSU at Baton Rouge.
Vanderbilt's guard, Riley LaChance (13), tries to get past LSU guards Jalyn Patterson (11) and LSU Wayde Sims (44) in the final seconds of the first half on Thursday, December 29, 2016 in Pete Maravich Assembly Center of LSU Rouge, La.
Striker LSU Wayde Sims (44) blocks the shot attempt by Houston guard Rob Gray Jr. (32) in the first half, Tuesday, November 29, 2016, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. from LSU to Baton Rouge, La.
With striker Aaron Epps, 44-year-old forward LSU Wayde Sims plays a bigger role for the Tigers after Craig Victor's dismissal.
LSU head coach Johnny Jones, left, gives instructions to Wayde Sims (44) and Brandon Simpso (0) in the second game of LSU's 78-70 victory over North Florida on Friday night at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
LSU forward Wayde Sims (44) plunged the ball into the Tigers 78-61 win over the Golden Eagles on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA.
LSU guard Antonio Blakeney (2) passes forward LSU Wayde Sims (44) and South Mississippi guard Kevin Holland (20) in the Tigers 78-61 Golden Eagles win on Tuesday 15 November 2016 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center of LSU in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU Wayde Sims (44) striker defends the net against South Mississippi Raheem Watts striker (0), Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Red, The.
The LSU striker, Wayde Sims (44), opposed Wofford on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, at the LSU's Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.
The Baton Rouge police released one of the videos that captured the fight that led to the shooting – hoping that someone could identify the people involved in his death.
The video shows about eight men in street fighting at one point, where three or four of them punched each other, until two men separated from the group. Then a shot is fired. McKneely said that the investigators were specifically trying to identify and locate the individual who is seen near the end of the video by wearing red pants with a white stripe on the leg and a gray shirt – the only one that is visible. one of the two men separated from the group just before the shot. McKneely identified the other man separated from the group as Sims.
[[[[RELATED: The assassination of the incredible Wayde Sims, the worst nightmare of a coach, according to Will Wade
Although McKneely stated that the police still did not consider the man with white striped red pants as a suspect in the murder, he is considered a person of interest.
"At the time (Sims) fell, he was fighting against this guy," said McKneely. "We do not want to speculate, but this guy was close to him.Everyone ran, except – from what we see – him.Everyone was surprised, took off, but he did not. did not do it. " I am so surprised that we are particularly interested in him. "
McKneely said that they also want to identify other men in the fight for interrogation. He said that the shooting investigation is continuing.
Two days earlier, Sims had joked with a Lawyer sports reporter about his new haircut – softening his appearance from last year – and shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming season. Wade had recently called him on "Off the Bench" from ESPN's 104.5 FM, one of the most successful players of the summer, and Sims was ready to face a new goalkeeper instead of moving on to through the games as a small striker.
"I like to play where the team needs me," Sims said. "I try to do my best to help the team win."
Can not see the video below? Click here.
A former standout at University High, Sims was entering his third season at LSU. A 6-foot-6 striker averaging 5.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last season with 10 starts in 32 games. Sims specialized in sports administration.
Sims was the 2014-2015 player of the Louisiana Gatorade at U-High, where he led the Cubs to three consecutive state titles from 2014 to 2016.
Wayde Sims' father, Wayne, also played in the LSU basketball team from 1987 to 1991 under coach Dale Brown.
Father and son usually play face-to-face. Wayne Sims needs the ball first – his conditioning is not as perfect as when he teamed up with Stanle …
"It's an absolute tragedy when a young life is cut so senseless," said LSU Sports Director Joe Alleva. "I have been in athletics for more than 40 years, and this may be the saddest day of my career."
LSU President F. King Alexander said that he knew Wayde Sims personally and that he was stunned by the news.
"To say that we are afflicted is a euphemism," Alexander wrote in a statement Friday morning. "Wayde was a beloved member of the LSU community whose leadership was appreciated by his coach and teammates, the void left by his passing will be immense, and we ask you to keep his family in your prayers."
In the morning of Friday morning, there was little shooting time earlier. A police band hung on a nearby tree, local media dragged into the parking lot. Milton Talbert, a friend and former colleague of Sims' father, stopped after hearing the tragic news.
"I just had to come and see that," said Talbert. "It's so sad that all of our kids are destroying themselves for no reason – I feel right for Wayne and his wife this morning."
He said he plans to contact Wayne Sims later today, offer his condolences and express his empathy for his friend's pain.
"We lost our son in 2004," said Talbert. "He was murdered, I know the feeling, when you lose a child like that, it is devastating … I hope that he will always be able to look at the celestial hills because that is. that's where all our strengths come from. "
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