Starkville High football player fatally shot

WEST POINT ? Police say a 16-year-old Starkville High School football player was shot to death by a 31-year-old man early Sunday.

The Commercial Dispatch reported that Devin Mitchell, a junior, was fatally shot about 2:55 a.m.

Mitchell was taken to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, where he died, according to West Point Police Chief Tim Brinkley.

Police arrested Tavaris F. Collins and charged him with murder. Brinkley said a motive for the shooting was still under investigation.

Mitchell was a member of the Starkville High football team that reached the Class 5A state title game this season. Mitchell, a tight end and linebacker, led Starkville with 34 catches for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns.

"It is such a tragedy," said Stan Miller, Starkville High athletics director. "He was a straight A-B student, a churchgoer, a fine young man ... I'm just sick. I'm torn up."

Starkville School District Interim Superintendent Beth Sewell called Mitchell "a student of great promise" and his death "a grievous loss to the Yellowjacket family."

Source: http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120102/NEWS/201020313/1001/RSS01

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