Jyilek Zyiare Harrington, a 21-year-old Black male from Charlotte, North Carolina, died on September 11, 2024, after he was shot inside an apartment in Charleston, West Virginia. He was a senior linebacker at West Virginia State University, where he had recently transferred after playing at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee. His death came just before West Virginia State was scheduled to face Carson-Newman in a football home opener, turning what was supposed to be a reunion on the field
into a night of mourning for both teams.
Charleston police said Harrington was found inside an apartment on Regency Drive after a disturbance that involved gunfire in a hallway and inside the apartment. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency efforts were attempted, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. West Virginia State officials said the incident was being investigated as a possible home invasion, while police described the case as a homicide investigation.
The timing of Harrington’s death deepened the shock around the university and football community. He had only recently joined West Virginia State but was already described by the school as a dedicated student-athlete, a leader on campus, and someone active in helping others. University leaders said he had been known for raising money around the holidays to help less fortunate families, and after his death the athletic department created a fundraiser in his memory, with donations intended to support an organization in his hometown of Charlotte.
The football game between West Virginia State and Carson-Newman was postponed so players, coaches, and staff from both programs could hold private vigils. Carson-Newman, his former school, also joined in mourning him, making the loss especially personal on both sidelines. What had been scheduled as a competitive matchup instead became a shared moment of grief for teammates who had known him in different chapters of his college career.
Publicly available reports did not identify any suspect or suspects in Harrington’s killing. Charleston police said at the time that they had no information on a possible suspect, and online reports reviewed did not show that an arrest, criminal charge, trial, or conviction had been announced in connection with his death. The case was described as an active homicide investigation, with authorities still seeking answers about who fired the shots and what led to the deadly confrontation inside the apartment.
