He's a Teen Football Star— and Under Arrest

Luke Hill allegedly threatened the boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted May 22, 2020 10:25 AM CDT
College Recruit Was Shooting Hoops. Then Came Bullets
The booking photo for Luke Hill.   (Prince Georges County)

A high school football star who fielded offers from more than a half-dozen colleges isn't likely to attend any this fall after he allegedly tried to murder his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend. Luke Hill, 18, of Maryland was arrested on a slew of charges including attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault on Tuesday, reports the Washington Post. A day earlier, Hill fired at least seven shots at his rival from a car, according to police in Prince George's County. "This was not a random act," a spokesman says. Coverage:

  • Responding to the shooting in Accokeek, Maryland, around 7:30pm Monday, officers found an uninjured victim outside a home that had been shot at least twice. The victim told police he'd been playing basketball when someone in a white car with tinted windows opened fire.
  • ESPN identifies the victim as Ishmael Leggett, a former classmate of Hill's at St. John's College High in Washington, DC, who has committed to play basketball at the University of Rhode Island. URI Coach David Cox says he's since spoken with Leggett, per the Providence Journal. "Thankfully, he was not harmed."
  • Charging documents say Hill had been calling the victim's girlfriend, "threatening her about her current relationship." He apparently also took issue with a photo posted on social media. Media reports describe the woman as Hill's ex-girlfriend.

  • Hill was questioned by police after leaving his Temple Hills home in a vehicle matching the victim's description. Police say they later found three guns at the home. A loaded Glock handgun in a hidden compartment in Hill's bedroom closet allegedly matched the casings found at the scene. Documents note Hill's vehicle was also captured on a security camera.
  • Hill—"rated the nation's No. 21 cornerback in the class of 2020," per the Oregonian—had initially been expected to play football at the University of Oregon this fall after fielding offers from at least eight other schools. But he was "informed earlier this spring that he would not be a member of our program," says Oregon Coach Mario Cristobal.
  • Oregonian columnist John Canzano tweeted that the school parted ways with Hill after a series of "immature actions" in February. He noted the actions "were not related to the current charges."
  • Hill was also a defensive back at St. John's but left the school during his junior year. He completed his diploma at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore.
  • In addition to attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault, the 18-year-old faces numerous misdemeanor weapons charges. He was held in Prince George's County jail without bond as of Wednesday. He could face life in prison if convicted on all charges.
(More attempted murder stories.)

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