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A Washington State University football player was shot in the wee hours of Sunday morning at an off-campus apartment party after the Apple Cup between WSU and the University of Washington.
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Sone Falealo was shot during an altercation at a party at the Aspen Heights Apartments in Pullman, Washington, and is recovering following surgery, according to multiple reports.
The incident occurred around 1:47 a.m. local time and Falealo was taken to Pullman Regional Hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, though the bullet did not damage any organs.
Police IDed 20-year-old UW student Jakori Cezon Buchanan as the alleged shooter and a judge signed off on a felony arrest warrant on charges of first and fourth degree assault.
As of Monday, Buchanan remained at large and police said that the vehicle he had been driving was a rental, according to KNDU.
Court documents stated that Falealo and teammates Jaylin Caldwell and Xavier Thorpe had been asked to act as security for the party following earlier noise complaints and that other partygoers had told police that Buchanan had been involved in several incidents during the party, The Athletic reported.
One woman told authorities that Buchanan allegedly assaulted her, attempting to punch her in the face, but instead missing and striking her in the chest.
After he attempted to hit her again, she struck him back, according to court records, and led to the three football players intervening.
Another altercation occurred outside, which led Falealo to engage with Buchanan again and the latter was pushed to the ground, which was captured on surveillance footage.
After a friend of Buchanan’s got involved, the alleged shooter pulled the firearm from his waistband, firing one shot that struck Falealo.
Authorities were sure to mention that those at the party, including Falealo, Caldwell and Thrope did not have a criminal history and have been cooperating with investigators.
Falealo, an Alaska native, started his college football career at the University of Idaho, where he did not play during his true freshman season and then transferred to WSU during the offseason.
He has not appeared in a game for WSU yet.
