University of the Cumberlands football player shot, killed

A University of the Cumberlands football player who was set to make his return to the team after a two-year hiatus is dead following a fatal shooting at a nightclub in Tampa, FL Monday morning.

According to a story published in the The St. Petersburg Times, Marcus Wesley, 24, was found by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputies in the back of a vehicle that was seen leaving the scene shortly after a reported incident a local popular nightclub, Sin City.

According to police records, the first shooting occurred around 2:17 a.m. in the parking lot of the nightclub. Witnesses reported a fight and said gunshots rang out. Deputies didn’t find Wesley when they arrived, but they did find spent shell casings and interviewed witnesses. Around 2:47, they found Wesley suffering from a gunshot wound several blocks away.

Wesley last played for UC in 2006 when he was named to the All-Conference 1st Team Defensive squad. He helped lead the Patriots to a 6-4 season, recording 92 tackles on the season, 45 of which were solo. He also had 14 1/2 tackles for loss, totaling 67 yards, four-and-a-half sacks and three interceptions. He was also named to the NAIA South All Region team in 2006.

Patriots’ coach John Bland, who had nothing but good things to say about Wesley, said his team is hurting emotionally after hearing the news.

"This is an awful big loss for our football team, but it’s an even bigger loss for the family and loved ones of Marcus Wesley," Bland said. "He had a four-year-old daughter and a host of other family that are going to miss him.

"He had a lot of good friends here at the University that are grieving and they need prayers just like his family does," he added.

Shortly after the initial call investigators were contacted about a second gunshot victim, who was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in a private vehicle. The 22-year-old man’s name has not been released. Deputies say both victims were involved in the nightclub shooting. They had been in the nightclub’s parking lot, fought with one or more people and were shot, according to the news release.

Sources close to the university say Wesley left after the ’06 season due to legal troubles. The St. Petersburg Times reported that Hillsborough County Jail records show Wesley has been arrested at least six times on charges that include grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of cocaine, burglary, driving without a license, aggravated battery, robbery and cruelty to animals.

Despite those reports, Bland said Wesley never showed that side of himself while in Williamsburg and was always an exceptional student and leader.

"As long as he was here he never failed a class," Bland said. "A lot of kids that come from neighborhoods like Marcus came from don’t lead very well, but he was a leader on the football field and he was a leader on this campus to a lot of people.

"I was really looking forward to having him back here and he was excited about playing football again," Bland added. "But more importantly, Marcus was 20 hours away from graduating and as excited as he was about football, he was more excited about finishing college."