American football player killed in shooting, teammate and Giants draft pick injured

Corey Ballentine of Washburn runs during the NFL Combine. Photo / Getty

Hours after he was selected by the New York Giants in the NFL draft, Corey Ballentine was wounded in a shooting that left a former Washburn University teammate dead early Sunday morning near the campus of the Topeka, Kansas, school.

Dwane Simmons, a 23-year-old junior defensive back from Lee's Summit, Missouri, was killed, the university confirmed. Ballentine, a 23-year-old cornerback taken by the Giants with the 180th overall pick, suffered what Topeka police described as non-life-threatening injuries.

"It's all a crazy dream until you do it," Ballentine, a sixth-round pick, tweeted Saturday evening. "I can't even explain the emotions I have right now. S/o the people that told me to pick a more realistic career. This is as real as it gets. Thank you to the Giants organisation for believing in me. It's only up from here. #GiantsPride"

Washburn Coach Craig Schurig called the news about Simmons "heartbreaking" and added "Dwane is one of the most energetic and well-liked players I have ever coached at Washburn. Dwane's infectious smile and love for football and his teammates was truly inspirational. Our prayers of healing go out to his family, his parents Navarro and Yasmine Simmons and Chaquilla Williams."

Ballentine is expected to make a full recovery.

"Any time we lose a student it is a sad occasion, but it is particularly poignant to lose a student through such a senseless act," Washburn president Dr. Jerry Farley said in a statement. "Both Dwane and Corey have been great examples and representatives of the football team and of Washburn University in general. This was a terrible way to end a day which should have been a day of celebration and a day to look forward to Dwane's upcoming year at Washburn and the beginning of Corey's professional career."

Details are sketchy, but WIBW's Tyler Greever reports that the two men were close and Simmons' Twitter feed Saturday was filled with tweets about Ballentine. Officers were summoned to the scene of the shooting at about 12:45 a.m. Central time, and the station reports that Simmons died at the scene.

Washburn students who live near the scene of the shooting told KSNT's Kelly Saberi that the evening started "as a typical house party" and that "everyone fled the house" when shots were fired.

A police investigation is ongoing.

"We are aware of the tragic situation and continue to gather information," the Giants said in a statement. "We have spoken to Corey, and he is recovering in the hospital. Our thoughts are with Dwane Simmons' family, friends and teammates and the rest of the Washburn community."