Olivet College baseball player shot after game
A Michigan college baseball player was brazenly gunned down after the team’s first win of the season, officials said Sunday.
The unidentified Olivet College player was allegedly shot three times by a former student, Franklin J. Grayson, following Friday evening’s game at Muskingum University in Ohio, Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office said.
The victim went back to the dugout at the field shortly after the game to retrieve a personal item when he was hit by gunfire, Olivet College said.
The ball player was immediately treated at the scene before he was taken to the hospital, where he is in stable condition, Muskingum University said.
School officials ordered the campus to shelter in place while the suspect was on the loose.
The alleged shooter was nabbed after eyewitnesses provided a description that allegedly matched Grayson, prosecutors said.
Grayson, of Jacksonville, Florida, was charged with one count of attempted murder with a firearm specification and one count of felonious assault with a firearm specification, prosecutors said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim, his family and all others impacted by this crime,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
If convicted, Grayson could be imprisoned for up to 14 years.
But more charges could be filed as the probe into the shooting continues.
He’s currently in custody as prosecutors plan to request $1 million bail.
No motive was revealed by officials so far.
“Law enforcement also stated they have no indication of a relationship between the parties and that there was no known or ongoing threat to the student-athlete, the Olivet College community, or other individuals,” Olivet College said in a statement.
Grayson is a 2021 grad of Olivet College, based in southern Michigan, school officials said.
The Detroit News reported Grayson, 26, participated in commencement in 2021, earning a degree in business administration and management, citing school records. He was at the school from 2016 to 2020, the newspaper reported.
The distressing shooting marred Olivet’s first win of the season after starting the season 0-12. The rest of the games the team was supposed to play this weekend were canceled.
All athletic events at Muskingum were called off for the weekend.
“The College is in communication with the student-athletes and their parents and will continue to provide support in the days ahead,” Olivet College stated. “This is a challenging time for all involved and our attention is focused on supporting the student-athletes and staff members.”