LSU players questioned, released in shooting

Published 7:00 pm Sunday, December 23, 2018

Two LSU football players, including backup running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, were questioned and released without charges being filed Saturday after they were in the front seat of a truck in which another person was shot and killed in the back seat.

A report by Sports Illustrated said police are investigating whether the shooting was in self-defense.

The other player, according to SI.com, is walk-on redshirt freshmen linebacker Jared Small. Both are from Baton Rouge and played at Catholic High.

The deceased person has not been identified, but was not an LSU student-athlete, according to the school.

"The shooting occurred inside the cab of the four-door Chevy pickup truck," Baton Rouge Police spokesman, Sgt. L’Jean McKneely told the USA Today Network. "A total of three people were in the truck — the two student-athletes and the deceased — and at least two guns. We have the weapons that were involved."

The incident occurred around noon Satuday in the north Baton Rouge neighborhood of Scotlandville.

McKneely said that one of the two student-athletes called 9-1-1 immediately after the shooting and the two players waited for police to arrive.

They were taken in for questioning and released with no charges filed early Saturday night.

McKneely told NOLA.com the case is still under investigation, but "appears to be" leaning toward self-defense.

LSU had no comment on the matter other than a statement released by athletic director Joe Alleva, which said, "Right now, our concern is the safety of and well being of our student-athletes. They have been involved in a traumatic incident, and we have made our counselors available to assist immediately."

Edwards-Helaire is the Tigers’ second leading rusher with 626 yards and seven touchdowns on 136 carries.