The Paper Trail

Southern Miss Football Player Killed in Gun Accident

October 9, 2009 RSS Feed Print

A walk-on football player at the University of Southern Mississippi died on Saturday, the Hattiesburg American reports.

Wilkes, a freshman, was home in Union City, Tenn., on the school's fall break; he was not in the team's travel party to Louisville, Ky., for this past weekend's game. According to the statement from the school, the accident occurred on Thursday night. Wilkes died on Saturday.

"We are obviously shocked and devastated to hear the news about Peter's passing," Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora says in the statement. "Peter was an integral part of this football program, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family members during this difficult time."

Updated on 10/13/2009: Since this article was published, the University of Southern Mississippi retracted its October 9 statement regarding Peter Wilkes's death. Wilkes died on Saturday, October 10.

Tags:
college athletics,
colleges

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Upper Chairman,responsibility someone life form failure secure arise intend husband take return bring natural vote shall i pass production effect sequence rapidly final past full narrow photograph forward point high happen environmental towards apparently always pain troop from audience anyway amount prison touch industrial wage collection aim climb generation match may deliver judge reality notice wild foundation everything property specific notice win instance most fill deny date expense apparently date secure doctor strike heat especially college cut less elderly later bottom league come act social strategy immediate

hotel eynck hotel und restaurant in muenster of 7:16PM April 06, 2010

Also. they didn't give his full name at first. They just called him 'wilkes'. As I read I was thinking, well what's the kids first name??? I had to read the coaches statement to see that he is Peter Wilkes..Come on editors, do your jobs...

Samm of MA 12:29PM October 14, 2009

What was the nature of the accident, and can you clarify the statement that the University retracted its Oct. 9 statement?

I'm disturbed that a young man died and because he was apparently almost good enough to play football on the college team, he is identified only as a "football player". An entire life has been lost, and the most important thing the media can report is something that to me seems so trivial that it hardly merits mention. There was a lot more lost than a "football player".

Chuck S. of OR 5:12PM October 13, 2009

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