A community is in mourning after a talented high school basketball player passed away nearly two weeks after he was caught in a crossfire. NBC10’s Keith Jones has the story.
A star high school basketball player sought after by several colleges, who was an innocent bystander in a triple shooting last month, has died.
Devin Bullock, a 19-year-old senior at New Media Technology Charter School, succumbed to his injuries late Sunday night at Hahnemann University Hospital, the teen's family told NBC10.com.
Bullock suffered severe wounds to his leg and groin after being shot on the evening of April 23 along the 2500 block of W. Thompson Street in the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia.
The teen was standing with two friends, both 22-year-olds, when police say James Cole drove up to the trio and opened fire from inside a black car with tinted windows. Police say Cole, 21, had gotten into a heated argument with one of the other men two days before the shooting.
Bullock was most seriously wounded and had to have his right leg amputated over the course of his treatment, his family said.
"He worked so hard, he was so dedicated," Crystal Evans, the teen's sister, told NBC10.com on Friday. "Dedicated to being a man. Dedicated to being a leader and being an example. They took that from him."
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Friends and family say Bullock was supporting himself and worked 40 hours a week at FootLocker. Despite this, he still excelled in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, leading his team to their first ever championship game.
"Here's a young man who paid for his own rent, went to school, came to practice, was a good student and besides that, was a leader," said Michael Greene, coach of the New Media basketball team. "I'm angry because here's a young man who had his whole life in front of him. In one instance, it was taken away."
Justin Pascale, the principal of New Media, says Bullock also served as a mentor in his community.
"He was a mentor to our middle school scholars," Pascale said. "He was a mentor to our seniors. He was just an outstanding individual."
Prior to his death, Bullock had several scholarship offers from colleges.
"A remarkable young man," said Reuben Mills, CEO of New Media High. "Quick, talented, smart and just full of life."
Cole surrendered to detectives on Saturday and was charged with three counts of attempted murder and related offenses.
Homicide detectives tell NBC10 they are in discussions with the District Attorney to see if the charges will be upgraded to murder. For now however, the attempted murder charge still stands.
PHOTO: A mughshot of James Cole, 21, provided by the Philadelphia Police Department.
