A former Arizona Wildcats football player was accused of murder. | Dave Adamson/Unsplash
A former Arizona Wildcats football player was accused of murder. | Dave Adamson/Unsplash
Former Arizona Wildcats player DaVonte' Neal was charged with first-degree murder stemming from a 2017 shooting in Maricopa County.
Neal is an assistant football coach at Idaho State University (ISU).
He was charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of drive-by shooting, and one count of discharging a firearm at a structure, according to the Idaho State Journal. Neal was indicted on May 11 and arrested on May 25. The university placed him on administrative leave and took steps to terminate his contract.
"I have been in constant contact with [Idaho State head coach Charlie Ragle] who has known DaVonte' for many years and never had any knowledge or suspicion of a possible crime of any kind," Pauline Thiros, ISU athletic director, said. "The news of DaVonte' Neal's arrest and charges in Arizona was a great shock. Going forward, we will cooperate in every way possible, safeguard our program and culture, support each other and our students, and allow the legal process to work. The news is devastating and we hope for resolution for all involved."
The alleged shooting of Bryan Brown occurred in Maricopa County in November 2017, the Idaho State Journal reported. Since the indictment was not issued until May, nothing showed up on the background check conducted while Idaho State was in the process of hiring Neal, according to an unnamed university official.
"All Idaho State employees are required to undergo a criminal background check before employment," the official said. "Neal's background check was clear and he was approved for work when hired in January. The warrant for his arrest was issued in Arizona by the Maricopa County court last month."
Idaho State Journal sports writer Greg Woods posted a comment by Ragle, who coached Neal at Arizona, in a Twitter post.
"Idaho State head coach Charlie Ragle on DBs coach DaVonte’ Neal’s arrest: 'The circumstances that have taken place in the last week are devastating to everybody involved,'" Woods said. He also posted a video of Ragle on Twitter.
"Ragle issued this statement and did not take questions, explaining he didn't have all the answers," Woods said.
Neal is being held without bond in a Bannock County, Idaho, jail and awaiting extradition to Arizona.
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