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Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff Writer
Michigan State men’s basketball freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. suffered nonlife-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound near his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, the school announced Saturday.
Fears, 18, was shot in the leg late Friday or early Saturday. The school said he underwent surgery Saturday but did not offer details surrounding the circumstances of the shooting.
According to a statement from the Joliet Police Department, an 18-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were both injured in an overnight shooting. The man was shot in the thigh and the woman was shot in the pelvis, police said, noting both injuries were not life-threatening.
Police said the man and woman were in a home with friends when a male gunman entered and began to shoot. Police said they were not sure if the two victims were the intended targets and have not located the suspect during an active investigation.
Although police did not identify the victims, a source said the details align with what they know about the Fears shooting.
“Jeremy underwent surgery this morning and is resting comfortably,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said in a statement. “While there is much we still don’t know, my focus is on supporting Jeremy on his road to recovery.”
Fears posted an Instagram story Saturday from what appeared to be a hospital bed, writing “Minor setback we gone be good appreciate yall.”
A four-star prospect in the 2023 class, Fears is averaging 3.5 points per game.
The shooting is the latest incident of gun violence to impact the program.
Earlier this year, three students were killed in a mass shooting on Michigan State’s campus when a gunman entered two buildings and opened fire before he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In the Spartans’ first game after the shooting, a section of the Breslin Center was left open to honor the victims.
In 2022, former Michigan State star Adreian Payne was shot and killed in Florida after he attempted to prevent a domestic incident.
Michigan State (7-5) faces Indiana State in East Lansing on Dec. 30.
