New Orleans Pelicans Guard Bryce Dejean-Jones Dead at 23 (UPDATE)

Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones died at 23 after being shot in the abdomen.

Photo Removed
Complex Original

Blank pixel used during image takedowns

Photo Removed

(UPDATE 7:45pm): New Orleans Pelicans rookie guard Bryce Dejean-Jones was fatally shot early Saturday after he had got into a heated argument with his girlfriend and mother of his daughter, ESPN reports. According to the player's agent, Scott Nichols, Dejean-Jones visited his girlfriend at her Dallas apartment complex to celebrate his daughter's 1st birthday and grew frustrated while trying to get her attention after she locked him out of the apartment complex building's front door.

Apparently, Dejean-Jones had not been to his girlfriend's new apartment and did not know which apartment was hers. He went to the wrong unit located one floor below her apartment location, CNN reports. The resident told police that he “called out to the individual, but was not answered” after he heard the banging. Police were told by the resident that Dejean-Jones then kicked open his bedroom door, which caused the resident firing his gun. Dejean-Jones was struck, then bled profusely on the breezeway of the apartment complex. He later succumbed to his wound in a local Dallas hospital.

Dallas police spokesman DeMarquis Black stated, “There is no information that suggests the deceased Bryce Dejean-Jones knew the apartment resident, or was armed as he entered the apartment.”

At press time, police have not said if any charges will be filed. We will provide more information as this story continues to develop.

See original story below.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones has died at the age of 23 from a gunshot wound. Dejean-Jones was struck in the abdomen and bled to death late Friday, according to The Vertical's Sham Charania.

Dejean-Jones bounced around in college, from USC to UNLV, before finding a home with Iowa State, where he played for current Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg. In his only year with Cyclones, Bryce averaged 10.5 points, 4.7 boards and 2.1 assists per game while shooting a career-best 47.6 percent from the field. The Los Angeles, California, native went undrafted in 2015, but received a Las Vegas Summer League invite from the Pelicans. Shortly before the start of the 2015-16 season, he was waived by the team.

Dejean-Jones continued to work towards his dream of playing in the NBA and signed to the NBA D-League's Idaho Stampede in December. In his two months with the Stampede, Dejean-Jones continued to impress and landed a 10-day contract with the Pelicans on January 21.

After just one month with the team, Dejean-Jones was reportedly finalizing a three-year deal. However, his rookie campaign came to an abrupt end a week later when he needed to undergo surgery to repair a right wrist fracture. 

The Pelicans released a statement regarding Dejean-Jones death earlier Saturday. "It is with deep sadness that the Pelicans organization acknowledges the sudden passing of Bryce Dejean-Jones. We are devastated at the loss of this young man’s life who had such a promising future ahead of him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce’s family during this difficult time.”

Others shared their condolences on Twitter.

UPDATED 5/28/16: NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement regarding the death of Dejean-Jones.

Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.

Latest in Sports