A freshman Michigan State University basketball player was shot in his thigh while back in his Joliet hometown over the holiday break.
Jeremy Fears Jr., a former four-star high school basketball recruit, was one of two people shot overnight on Saturday. Authorities have deemed the shootings suffered by Fears and the other victim as non-life threatening.
“Jeremy underwent surgery this morning and is resting comfortably,” said MSU head coach Tom Izzo in a statement. “While there is much we still don’t know, my focus is on supporting Jeremy on his road to recovery.”
According to Joliet Police, just before 4 a.m. in the 300 block of St. Jude Avenue, an armed male suspect entered a home and fired shots, hitting Fears Jr. in the thigh and a 19-year-old woman in her pelvis. The suspect fled.
The motive and intended target of the shooting are unknown.
Fears Jr’s father told ABC 7 Chicago that his son was at a former teammate’s house at the time of the shooting and that the incident appeared to be a random act.
“He’s in really good spirits right now,” Fears Sr. said, “He’s up watching TV, eating and talking, so we feel real good about that.”
The motive and intended target of the shooting are unknown as the incident is still under investigation, say Joliet Police.
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