TRAGEDY: Rugby Star Nathaniel Jennings K!LLED in Mother’s Day Incident, Police ISSUE Grim Statement
TRAGEDY: Rugby Star Nathaniel Jennings K!LLED in Mother’s Day Incident, P0lice ISSUE Grim Statement
Nathaniel Jennings, 19, d!ed after being shot near a country music bar in Florida in the early hours of Sunday morning.
6
Nathaniel Jennings d!ed after being shot near a Florida barCredit: Facebook
6
Stephan Dieujuste has been charged with manslaughterCredit: Melbourne P0lice Department
Jennings, a freshman, was taken to a local hospital where he d!ed after being shot near the Neon Rodeo bar, as per Florida Today.
Cops are probing the motive behind the shooting, but Jennings was reportedly arguing with Stephan Dieujuste, 24.
Dieujuste, a former basketball star for Eastern Florida State College claimed he acted in self-defense when being quizzed by cops after opening fire in Melbourne.
Cops are still probing what the argument was about.
Investigators combed the scene and a blood spatter was seen on a wall of the bar.
Jennings and Dieujuste studied at different high schools in Palm Bay – a city located around 74 miles from Orlando.
It’s not known how the two men knew each other, if at all, given they graduated school in different years.
Jennings was a defensive line on the University of Northwestern football team in Minnesota.
He was in Florida as he was visiting his mom, Autum, for Mother’s Day.
Jennings’ college described him as a “treasured” member of the team, as reported by the Fox affiliate WOFL-TV.
During his 2024 campaign, he recorded 55 tackles.
But, officials hailed his impact off the field.
“For as talented as Nate was on the football field, he was an even better person off of it,” they said.
“His contagious energy and positivity will be missed.”
TRIBUTES PAID
Devastated mom, Autum, has shared a heartbreaking montage of throwback snaps on social media.
She was seen beaming in selfies with her son, who was six feet two inches tall.
In some of the pictures, Jennings was seen wearing his football gear.
Autum also shared family snaps, a throwback image of her son looking dapper in a tuxedo, and pictures taken while on beach holidays.
Meanwhile, Dieujuste has been charged with manslaughter and appeared in court on Monday.
But, the impact of the shooting has left locals reeling.
Stats revealed that Jennings’ d3ath is the first reported homicide in Melbourne this year.
Randy Bennett, a local bar owner, said downtown Melbourne is a “safe location,” as reported by the NBC affiliate WESH-TV.
Jennings’ d3ath comes weeks after Texas athlete Austin Metcalf was k!lled at a high school track meet.
Karmelo Anthony was charged with murder after plunging a knife into Metcalf’s chest.
6
Jennings was a football star at the University of Northwestern in MinnesotaCredit: Facebook
6
Football star Jennings with his mom AutumCredit: Facebook
6
Autum shared a montage of family snaps in tribute to her late sonCredit: Facebook
6
The shooting happened near the Neon Rodeo country music bar in MelbourneCredit: Google
