High school football star, 16, dead in New Jersey shooting as family mourn ‘tragic accident’

By BEN NAGLE

A New Jersey community is in mourning after the shocking death of a 16-year-old high school football star who was shot in the head on Friday night.

Xyere Brooks died in hospital two hours after being shot inside a Camden County house, in what his family have described as a tragic accident.

Investigations are still ongoing into how the incident unfolded, but the victim’s brother Manazh Tomkins told 6ABC: ‘She put the gun to his head, and I guess she didn’t expect it to go off.

‘To make a long story short, the gun went off on my brother, and he’s no longer here with us.’

Brooks was a sophomore at Kipp High School in Camden, and was a star of the football academy with the likes of Rutgers and Syracuse already taking interest in him, according to his mother Antoinette Brooks.

Speaking to local media, she added: ‘These parents that are leaving their unsupervised teenage kids at home and not knowing what they may come into their homes with… there has to be a better way.’

Xyere Brooks died at the age of 16 on Friday after being shot in the head in New Jersey

No criminal charges have currently been filed, and the identity of the girl mentioned by Brooks’ brother has not been released by cops. 

Brooks’ school also paid tribute to the 16-year-old in a post on Instagram, alongside which they posted a photo of him on the football field, and one of his first day at school.

‘This week, our KCNA community is mourning and honoring the life of KHS Camden sophomore Xyere Brooks.

His school – KIPP Cooper Norcross – paid tribute to him by sharing a photo from his first day

‘Xyere began his journey with us at KIPP Lanning Square Middle as a fifth grader with a smile that could light up a room, a competitive spirit, and the kind of energy that brought joy to every hallway and dance battle.

‘At @khscamden, Xyere was a committed student, a loyal and encouraging teammate and friend, and a standout football player whose talent and drive were evident to all who knew him.

‘As a forever member of the LSM familia and a proud Titan, Xyere will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.’

Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown shared the news of Brooks’ death on X on Monday evening, urging his parents to get in touch. He wrote ‘RIP King’ alongside his post.

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High school football star, 16, dead in New Jersey shooting as family mourn ‘tragic accident’

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