Utah TE Lo Falemaka, RB Marcel Brooks-Brown suffer gunshot wounds

ByChantel Jennings ESPN logo
Sunday, September 13, 2015

Utahsophomore tight end Lo Falemaka and freshman running back Marcel Brooks-Brown are both stable and recovering in a hospital Sunday morning after being shot at a party late Saturday night.

According to a Utah news release, Falemaka, 20, and Brooks-Brown, 18, are expected to recover. Both were shot in the torso.

"Obviously, our first concern is that both Lo and Marcel are going to be OK, which appears to be the case," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Sunday in a statement. "We don't have all of the details yet, but it is our understanding that they are the victims in this incident and we feel very fortunate that they are expected to fully recover.

"It is unknown at this time how soon they will be able to return to the football field, but we are optimistic it will be in the near future."

According to police reports, the shooting happened at 11:53 p.m. Saturday at a private party when three men refused to leave, Salt Lake City police spokeswoman Robin Heiden told The Associated Press. One of the suspects pulled out a gun and shot the players.

The suspects are described as being in their 20s. One is black, 6 feet tall and was wearing a baseball cap with a red bandanna underneath and a red T-shirt. The second suspect was black, 5-foot-9 with short dreadlocks. He was also wearing a baseball cap and a red T-shirt. Third suspect was white, heavyset and had facial hair, police said.

Falemaka, who grew up in West Valley City, Utah, started as a walk-on in 2013. He is on scholarship. The tight end has appeared in two games this season on special teams.

Brooks-Brown, of Rio Linda, California, is in his first season and was expecting to redshirt.

Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.