New Orleans Pelicans Player Bryce Dejean-Jones Shot Dead in Dallas
Bryce Dejean-Jones, 23, played one season in the NBA.
— -- New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones was shot dead early Saturday after he broke down the door to an apartment in Dallas, police said.
Dallas police said a resident at the apartment was sleeping, and when he heard his door kicked open, he grabbed a gun. The resident "stated he called out to the individual, but was not answered," the police said. When Dejean-Jones began kicking the bedroom door, the resident fired, police said
Dejean-Jones left the apartment and collapsed in a breezeway, police said. He was taken to a hospital where he died, police said.
According to his agent, Dejean-Jones was visiting his girlfriend for his daughter's first birthday, which was Saturday. The agent, Scott W. Nichols, told The Associated Press the girlfriend returned to the apartment first while Dejean-Jones went for a walk after they had gone out.
But when Dejean-Jones, who was visiting the complex for the first time, tried to go to the apartment, he went to the third floor instead of the fourth, where the woman lives, Nichols said.
"He went to the wrong apartment unfortunately and I think he thought his girlfriend locked him out, so he was knocking on the door, banging on the door, it's locked," Nichols said. "So one thing led to another."
It is legal in Texas for someone to use deadly force in order to protect themselves from intruders.
Dejean-Jones, 23, played one season in the NBA.
"We are devastated at the loss of this young man's life who had such a promising future ahead of him," the Pelicans said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce's family during this difficult time."
The 6-foot-6 guard started 11 of the 14 games he played for the Pelicans, but his season was cut short because of a broken right wrist suffered in February. He averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds.
He was part of the 2014-15 Iowa State team that went 25-9, captured a Big 12 title and made a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. He was fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points in 33 games. He shot a career-best 47.6 percent in his lone season as a Cyclone. He also played at Southern California and UNLV.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
