A 21-year-old North Dakota college football player who was a star athlete at Minneapolis Washburn High School has been charged with fatally shooting a man outside a Minneapolis bar over the weekend during a shootout between two groups of people, authorities said Wednesday.
Cedric Chappell Jr. was arrested Tuesday at Valley City State University, Valley City, N.D. He remains in the Barnes County jail pending his return to Hennepin County.
He was charged earlier in the day with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder in the death early Saturday of Willie J. Smith III, 22, of St. Paul, outside the Blue Nile Restaurant and Lounge.
Upon his arrest, the junior wide receiver was suspended from the NAIA football team and the school, athletic officials said Wednesday. Chappell was the leader for the 3-1 Vikings in receiving yards and touchdown receptions. The team had a bye on its schedule last weekend, allowing Chappell time to be back in his hometown.
"This was a total shock to us," said Valley City State Athletic Director Jack Denholm, who added that Chappell caused no trouble during his brief time at the school.
According to the criminal complaint:
Chappell approached Smith outside the Blue Nile at 2027 E. Franklin Av. about 2:10 a.m. and shot Smith once in the chest. Chappell then shot another man who was running away, wounding him in the leg.
Police say the violence began with fighting inside the Blue Nile that spilled into the parking lot. That's where the two groups began shooting at each other, leaving bullet holes in nearby vehicles.
