Corey Adams to Alex Foster: Rising US college stars killed in senseless shootings

From Corey Adams to Alex Foster, a heartbreaking trend is emerging - rising US college athletes losing their lives to senseless gun violence. Adams, a promising Ole Miss football freshman, was fatally shot in Tennessee, while Foster, a standout defensive lineman, also fell victim to a shooting incident.

They were full of life, talent, and hope, admired by teammates, coaches, and communities who believed in them. Now, instead of celebrating their rise, we’re mourning their loss.

As their loved ones struggle to make sense of the pain, these tragedies serve as a stark reminder that urgent measures must be taken to curb gun violence and prevent more promising lives from being lost.


Corey Adams

Corey Adams was tragically shot and killed in Cordova, Tennessee, near Memphis. The 18-year-old New Orleans native was found with a gunshot wound inside a vehicle late Saturday night (July 19) and was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts. Four other men sustained non-life-threatening injuries and transported themselves to local hospitals. Authorities are treating the case as a homicide, with no suspects yet identified. Adams, a highly regarded defensive line recruit, had recently joined the University of Mississippi football team and was considered a rising star in the sport.

Mycheal Edwards-Wallace

Mycheal Edwards-Wallace, an incoming freshman football player at Division II Newberry College, was tragically killed, in the first week of July, in a shooting in Kingstree, South Carolina. He was one of four victims; one other person died, and two others were injured. Edwards-Wallace was remembered by head coach Todd Knight as a talented athlete, strong student, and young man with a bright future. “He will always be part of our Newberry family,” Knight said. The college expressed deep condolences to his loved ones, calling the loss heartbreaking. His death comes just two months before Newberry's season opener against UVA Wise on September 6.

Jamarion Brown

Jamarion Brown, a 23-year-old college basketball star guard for Henderson State University, was tragically shot and killed at a pool party in Camp County, Texas. Brown, popularly known as 'JoJo', was found in serious condition after being shot in the head and later died at the hospital. A 17-year-old suspect, Onterrian Jamour Newton, was arrested and charged with murder. Two others were also injured - one shot in the leg and the other in the hip - but their injuries were not life-threatening. Henderson State Athletics issued a heartfelt tribute to Brown, remembering him as a beloved member of the team. Newton remains in jail without bond.

Nathaniel Bernard Jennings

Star college football player Nathaniel Bernard Jennings, 19, was fatally shot over Mother’s Day weekend in his Florida hometown following an argument outside a downtown Melbourne bar. Jennings, a standout freshman defensive lineman at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, was found unresponsive and later died at a hospital. The alleged shooter, 24-year-old former college basketball player Stephan Dieujuste, was arrested and charged with manslaughter. The incident, captured on surveillance cameras, remains under investigation. Jennings had just completed an impressive freshman season and was praised by his coach for his talent and character. He is survived by his mother and brother.

Alex Foster

Baylor University is mourning the tragic loss of 18-year-old defensive lineman Alex Foster, who was fatally shot in Greenville, Mississippi, in late May. Police responded to a report of gunfire and found Foster with multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle; he later died at Delta Health Center. Foster, a 6-foot-5, 292-pound athlete, had redshirted his freshman season in 2024 and recently participated in spring workouts. Baylor coach Dave Aranda and AD Mack Rhoades expressed heartbreak over the loss, calling rising football star Foster a cherished part of the Baylor family.