Former Buffalo State football player Malachi Capers was tragically shot after an altercation at a liquor store.
TMZ reports that Capers is currently in critical condition after he was shot following an altercation in which he and another man bumped into each other inside 136 Deli & Grill in Queens on Monday.
The incident was caught on camera; in the video, it shows Capers seemingly, accidentally bumping into a man. The man, who is standing in the middle of the store’s walking area, then turns towards Capers and pushes him on the shoulder. The two exchange a few words, and the man then hauls off and throws a punch at Capers. That’s when the man takes off, and Capers runs after him out the store; the two end of falling to the ground while fighting.
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Things escalate when the man suddenly pulls out a gun and shoots Capers. The football player was hit in the stomach. Late Wednesday afternoon, the New York Police Department announced they had arrested the shooting suspect, who has been identified as Jeffrey Thurston.
In response to the shooting, Buffalo State head coach Christian Ozolins said “Malachi was a well-liked member of our football family during his freshman year in 2018 and has remained a friend to many in our program as he has continued his education at Buffalo State after leaving the team due to ongoing injury issues,” Ozolins wrote in a statement. “We have him in our thoughts as we wish for a speedy and full recovery.”
