Authorities Sunday continued their investigation of how current NBA and former USC and Taft High School basketball player Bryce Dejean-Jones was shot to death in Dallas when he apparently entered the wrong apartment while searching for his infant daughter and her mother.
“An individual believed to be breaking into the apartment of an estranged acquaintance inadvertently broke into the wrong apartment,” apartment complex manager Joshua Pool told residents in an email. “After breaking in, the intruder was shot.”
Dejean-Jones’ agent, Scott Nichols — who said his client was in Dallas to celebrate his daughter’s first birthday — expressed his admiration for Dejean-Jones.
“Bryce was a great person and I admired his drive and determination to make his dream of playing in the NBA come true,” Nichols told City News Service.
The shooter told Dallas police he heard someone kick open the front door of his apartment and go inside and that he fired his weapon when Dejean-Jones kicked open his bedroom door, department officials said.
Dejean-Jones was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The shooting happened about 5 a.m. Dallas time Saturday at the city’s Camden Belmont apartments, according to a variety of reports.
Dejean-Jones played one year at USC, before transferring to Nevada-Las Vegas, broadcast reports said.
“We are saddened to learn of Bryce’s passing” USC spokesman Tim Tessalone said. “It is tragic that he lost his life at such a young age while living his dream of playing in the NBA. The Trojan Family extends condolences to his family in this difficult time.”
The New Orleans Pelicans also released a statement:
“We are devastated at the loss of this young man’s life, who had such a promising future ahead of him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce’s family during this difficult time.”
— City News Service