JMU Duke Dog
July 2nd, 2005, 09:14 AM
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By Mike Barber of Harrisonburg's Daily News-Record:
James Madison rising-sophomore tackle Franklin Martin was injured in a shooting early Friday morning at Highlawn Pavilion, sources said.
Martin was in fair condition at the University of Virginia Medical Center on Friday night, hospital spokesperson Abena Foreman-Trice said.
Lt. Kurt Boshart, a spokesman with the Harrisonburg Police Department, said the incident began with a fight at closing time at the restaurant/bar on Evelyn Byrd Avenue. One of the individuals involved went to a car, retrieved a handgun and returned to the business. He began firing, injuring two people.
Fellow offensive lineman Harry Dunn was with the 20-year-old Martin at Highlawn earlier in the evening. Dunn said he left at around 1:20 a.m., leaving Martin behind.
"Me and Franklin were together the whole night inside Highlawn, just hanging out, talking to girls," Dunn said. "It wasn’t even crowded. There was nobody there."
Martin and the second victim were taken to Rockingham Memorial Hospital and were later transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Dunn said he visited Martin at RMH early Friday morning after the shooting and said his teammate was "in good spirits."
JMU coach Mickey Matthews was aware of Martin’s situation but was only willing to make two statements.
"One, the administration and I will evaluate and investigate the situation when we have all the facts," Matthews said. "And two, the kid’s doing fine... He’s going to be fine."
The 6-foot-4, 330-pounder from Martinsville came to JMU as a defensive tackle before the 2004 season. Coaches planned to move him to the offense when preseason practice starts on Aug. 7.
Martin, 20, who works part-time as a bouncer at the club, was not working the Thursday night shift when he was shot, owner Nicholas Neofotis said.
"My wife and I are real concerned about the two kids that are in the hospital," said Neofotis, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Brenda. "And we’re concerned for the family too. It’s under investigation. It was just a scramble last night. We’re just waiting to hear how the guys are doing."
Neofotis said Martin worked at Highlawn "just a few hours a week, every other week."
Highlawn is a popular hangout for the Dukes, players said. Tailback Alvin Banks said he was stunned to hear that Martin had been shot there.
"I’m real surprised," Banks said by phone from New York. "We don’t have any problems over there. You don’t ever expect that to happen in Harrisonburg, it’s not that kind of a city."
Police are looking for 22-year-old Chris Brown of Goldsboro, N.C., who they are charging with two counts of malicious wounding and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The police have two other men in custody – Gregory Darnell McMillan, 20, of Harrisonburg and Robert Dison Frye, 20, of Goldsboro – and have charged each with two counts of aiding or abetting to maliciously wound.
By Mike Barber of Harrisonburg's Daily News-Record:
James Madison rising-sophomore tackle Franklin Martin was injured in a shooting early Friday morning at Highlawn Pavilion, sources said.
Martin was in fair condition at the University of Virginia Medical Center on Friday night, hospital spokesperson Abena Foreman-Trice said.
Lt. Kurt Boshart, a spokesman with the Harrisonburg Police Department, said the incident began with a fight at closing time at the restaurant/bar on Evelyn Byrd Avenue. One of the individuals involved went to a car, retrieved a handgun and returned to the business. He began firing, injuring two people.
Fellow offensive lineman Harry Dunn was with the 20-year-old Martin at Highlawn earlier in the evening. Dunn said he left at around 1:20 a.m., leaving Martin behind.
"Me and Franklin were together the whole night inside Highlawn, just hanging out, talking to girls," Dunn said. "It wasn’t even crowded. There was nobody there."
Martin and the second victim were taken to Rockingham Memorial Hospital and were later transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Dunn said he visited Martin at RMH early Friday morning after the shooting and said his teammate was "in good spirits."
JMU coach Mickey Matthews was aware of Martin’s situation but was only willing to make two statements.
"One, the administration and I will evaluate and investigate the situation when we have all the facts," Matthews said. "And two, the kid’s doing fine... He’s going to be fine."
The 6-foot-4, 330-pounder from Martinsville came to JMU as a defensive tackle before the 2004 season. Coaches planned to move him to the offense when preseason practice starts on Aug. 7.
Martin, 20, who works part-time as a bouncer at the club, was not working the Thursday night shift when he was shot, owner Nicholas Neofotis said.
"My wife and I are real concerned about the two kids that are in the hospital," said Neofotis, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Brenda. "And we’re concerned for the family too. It’s under investigation. It was just a scramble last night. We’re just waiting to hear how the guys are doing."
Neofotis said Martin worked at Highlawn "just a few hours a week, every other week."
Highlawn is a popular hangout for the Dukes, players said. Tailback Alvin Banks said he was stunned to hear that Martin had been shot there.
"I’m real surprised," Banks said by phone from New York. "We don’t have any problems over there. You don’t ever expect that to happen in Harrisonburg, it’s not that kind of a city."
Police are looking for 22-year-old Chris Brown of Goldsboro, N.C., who they are charging with two counts of malicious wounding and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
The police have two other men in custody – Gregory Darnell McMillan, 20, of Harrisonburg and Robert Dison Frye, 20, of Goldsboro – and have charged each with two counts of aiding or abetting to maliciously wound.