Buckeye recruit critically injured in fatal shooting

[Buckeyes1]

Buckeye recruit critically injured in fatal shooting
Posted by John Taylor on June 19, 2010 11:09 PM ET

For the second time in almost exactly two months, one of the top defensive recruits in Ohio State's 2010 recruiting class has been shot.  This time, however, there's a fatality involved.


According to television station WYTV in Youngstown, Ohio, 18-year-old Jamel Turner was critically wounded after being shot multiple times in or around a residence on the city's westside.  A 17-year-old girl was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds inside the residence; Turner was found lying by a stop sign near the residence and is currently listed in critical condition.



The station reported that a four-year-old child inside the home where the female died heard the deceased arguing with another male before the shooting.  City police are actively searching for an 18-year-old suspect.


Turner, a defensive lineman, was a highly-touted but troubled member of the most recent OSU recruiting class and, while he had academic issues that needed to be addressed, he was expected to join the program this summer.


Turner was slightly injured in a drive-by shooting in the middle of this past April.  Weed and weapons were found in the vehicle in which Turner was riding, and at the wheel of said vehicle was someone whose character resided strictly in the shade.

UPDATED 11:26 p.m. ET: Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel issued a brief statement late tonight regarding Turner's situation.


"I'm so sad to hear of Jamel's misfortune. I have not communicated with Jamel, but am certainly praying for him at this time."

[brooks1957]

I had some previous posts about this young man's fall from grace as a star LB at Youngstown Ursuline - but those posts have been lost unfortunately. This post, however, details Jamel's failure to meet his academic responsibilities on multiple occasions and his continued penchant for putting himself in bad situations. I will be shocked, stunned and disappointed if he ever dons the Scarlet and Gray. I'm all for giving a kid a second chance after they have screwed up, but after repeated incidents, it's apparent that Jamel cannot avoid the, not only bad - but dangerous, situations that get him into trouble. Not cut from the "Buckeye" cloth, and it's time to move on to a more deserving prospect.

[Buckeyes1]

OSU recruit goes from hour-to-hour to stable
Posted by John Taylor on June 20, 2010 9:31 AM ET

Rumors were flying all across the Internet last night and early this morning that Ohio State recruit Jamel Turner, critically injured in a fatal shooting yesterday in Youngstown, Ohio, had passed away from the injuries.


The Columbus Dispatch reported that the rumors were false, but that Turner's status was "hour-by-hour".


Now, fortunately, Turner has apparently made it through the night and taken a turn for the better.  According to the Dispatch, Turner has been upgraded from critical to stable condition at an area hospital. 


As of mid-morning, police have not found the suspect they are searching for in the shooting, which resulted in not only Turner's injuries but the death of a 17-year-old girl as well.

[mjp28]

These "young" kids think just pulling a gun out and blasting away solves everything.
Then throw in guns, drugs and gangs and you have what we have today from coast-to-coast.

So stupid, many don't like what someone said or protecting their turf or whatever. They think it's a freakin' video game but people die, worse when innocent people die.

Makes me sick.

[AutoModGod]

I will be shocked, stunned and disappointed if he ever dons the Scarlet and Gray.

Brooks, I agree.
It should be game over for this guy as a Buckeye.

[brooks1957]

Brooks, I agree.
It should be game over for this guy as a Buckeye.

Yep, AMG, I'm all for helping- but bottom line, at some point the young man has to be responsible for himself. We do him a disservice to continue to try to bail him out without any participation from him.

There are a HELL of a lot of other kids in this state that always went to school, got good grades, got jobs, helped out around their homes with chores, etc. In other words, good kids. They are the ones who deserve a shot at being a Buckeye, not the ones who will dishonor the tradition of being a Buckeye because they just won't give up the "gangsta" lifestyle. We don't need anymore Claretts or Ken Yon Rambos.