According to the Dallas News, Onyeuku and another person allegedly
tried to break into a residence on Rio Grande Street in Plano, Texas the
night of November 21.
The home owner told Plano police that he saw ‘multiple people’ approaching the house.
Onyeuku had played for the Nigerian team that qualified for this summer’s Olympic Games in London.
The two apparently entered the residence by breaking a glass patio door.
The
homeowner shot Onyeuku, killing him instantly. His accomplice ran away
without injury. Police are still trying to track the second burglar.
No one inside the home was injured in the burglary.
Upon their arrival, EMT workers pronounced him dead at the scene.
It is unclear why Onyeuku and his companion were trying to burglarize the residence.
The
Nigeria Basketball Federation posted a statement saying that the
29-year-old athlete played basketball for the team that qualified for
the London 2012 Olympics.
However, Onyeuku was not on the Olympic roster and did not actually compete.
The
statement reads: '[His] passion for playing with D’Tigers was
deep-seated and he will be greatly missed. The federation joins his
family and team mates to mourn a departed son, father, husband and great
patriot.'
According to online sports records, Onyeuku was born in the Nigerian capital of Lagos in 1983.
He moved to the United States at age six.
He
played college basketball at Illinois State University and then went
semi-pro for awhile, playing for the Arlington Bulldogs, in the American
Basketball Association.
In 2009, he was invited to play for the D’Tigers, a national squad in Nigeria.
It also said that Onyeuku lived in Omaha, Nebraska.
No comments:
Post a Comment