In a dramatic turn of events, a junior college football star was taken into custody on charges of attempted murder on the same day he declared his commitment to join Oregon State’s team.
Brandon Smith, a running back hailing from Chicago and playing for Santa Barbara City College, made the announcement of his future athletic endeavor on the afternoon of June 2. He had drawn attention from other universities including Fresno State, Hawaii, and Nevada, showcasing his athletic prowess.
However, a few hours following his announcement, officers from the Santa Barbara County sheriff’s office were called to investigate a violent altercation near a local community pool. They found a 20-year-old man with significant injuries.
The young man was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, and his recovery is expected. The alleged perpetrators, however, had left the scene before the officers arrived.
On June 7, Smith found himself among four individuals arrested in connection to the poolside fight. Each of them has been charged with attempted murder, robbery, and conspiracy. The investigation team believes this was not a random act of violence, as the suspects and the victim were already known to each other.
Smith, now held in jail, has a bail set at $2 million.
Despite his athletic prowess, Oregon State University has decided not to include Smith in their program due to the serious allegations. The university’s athletic department confirmed the cancellation of his scholarship offer upon learning about the incident.