A University of Utah football player — who adopted the jersey number of a teammate fatally shot last year — was gunned down and killed at a house party Sunday, according to reports.
Aaron Lowe, 21, a defensive back from Mesquite, Texas, died from a gunshot wound at the gathering in the city’s Sugar House neighborhood, ESPN reported.
An unidentified female second victim was also struck during Sunday’s 12:20 a.m. incident and remains in critical condition, ABC4 Utah reported.
The circumstances of the shooting were not immediately clear, and no arrests have been made, officials said. ABC4 reported that there were witnesses and possible video footage.
In a cruel irony, Lowe was Utah’s first ever recipient of the Ty Jordan Memorial Scholarship, which was created after Jordan was accidentally shot dead in 2020.
Jordan and Lowe had been close friends, with Lowe switching his jersey number last year to honor his fallen teammate.
Lowe, in his third year with the team, had played in each of Utah’s first four games this year.
Shocked teammates flooded social media with messages of grief and condolence.
“Why do the good have to die young?” wrote Utah player Devin Lloyd. “Love you brother. Rest in paradise.”
Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham issued a statement after Lowe’s slaying.
“Aaron was a great teammate, friend, brother and son and was loved by anyone who crossed paths with him,” he wrote. “He will be deeply missed.”