DALLAS: Bryce Dejean-Jones had a bright future in the NBA, the league commissioner said following the death of the New Orleans Pelicans guard who was shot after kicking down the door of what he mistakenly thought was his girlfriend’s apartment in Dallas.
The death of the promising 23-year-old player rattled the league over the long weekend and raised questions about what led up to the shooting.
Dallas police said Sunday they would not have more information about the incident until after the holiday and did not answer the Associated Press’ question regarding whether the man who shot Dejean-Jones would face charges. It is legal in Texas for people to use deadly force to protect themselves from intruders. Dejean-Jones’ father told Los Angeles station KCBS-TV that his son was tenacious.
“He has had so many things that have happened to him along his path,” said K.C. Jones at his home in Inglewood, Calif., where Dejean-Jones grew up. “He made up his mind that he wanted to do what he was doing — play pro ball. And whatever it took, he was going to get there. He was going to do it.”
Dejean-Jones was visiting his girlfriend for his daughter’s first birthday and had gone for a walk early Saturday, according to his agent, Scott W. Nichols. His girlfriend lives on the fourth floor, and Dejean-Jones, who was visiting the complex for the first time, went to the third floor.
A man living at the apartment was sleeping when he heard his front door kicked open, police Senior Cpl. DeMarquis Black said Saturday in a statement.
When Dejean-Jones began kicking at the bedroom door, the man retrieved a handgun and fired. Dejean-Jones collapsed in an outdoor passageway, and he died at a hospital.
“It’s shocking this happened,” Nichols said. “Wrong place, wrong time, I think.”
In Dejean-Jones’ only NBA season, which ended in February because of a broken right wrist, the 6-foot-6 guard started 11 of 14 games and averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds.