College Basketball Player Fatally Shot In New Jersey

A college basketball player was fatally shot while sitting in a car in New Jersey late Saturday evening, according to police.

Phil Urban, a 20-year-old student-athlete at Post University in Connecticut, was killed at the Hopewell Valley Nature Preserve in Mercer County.

Authorities said that the preliminary investigation believed Urban might have been attempting to meet someone before the shooting death occurred. Urban was found slumped over in the front seat of his car.

The college athlete was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, where he was pronounced dead. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

WELCOME…Phil Urban. Phil is a 6’6 skilled wing from Manapalan NJ who can play multiple positions. We are excited about what Phil will add to our team both as a player and person. Welcome to the nest, Phil! #Signed 🦅🏀🟠🟣 @philurban0 @njpanthersboys @TPSBasketball pic.twitter.com/1xLy2UNLuy

— Post University Men’s Basketball (@Post_Eagles_MBB) April 28, 2022

Post was listed as a six-foot, six-inch freshman from Manalapan, New Jersey, who graduated from Pennington High School.

University President John Hopkins said in a statement that Urban “modeled the attributes of leadership, commitment and hard work on the court and in the classroom” as a member of the men’s basketball team and as a business administration major.

“We hope that his family, friends and those affected by his passing will find strength during this extremely difficult time,” he added.

As a freshman at Post, Urban played in four games this season, with his last on December 6, according to NJ Hoops. He ranked as a top recruit in the state as a senior, the outlet added.

The shooting death follows another recent killing of three University of Virginia football players last month. The Daily Wire previously reported that the student-athletes were fatally shot on a bus returning from a field trip, according to authorities, who announced a former player had been arrested in connection with the mass shooting.

The slain players were identified as Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., both wide receivers, and D’Sean Perry, a linebacker and defensive end. Two other students were injured. The shooting prompted a lockdown on the school’s Charlottesville campus while police hunted the suspect throughout the night.

“This is a sad, shocking, and tragic day for our UVA community,” University of Virginia President Jim Ryan said.

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