Last week, authorities of the Baton Rouge City Police Department named Marcus Thomas as a suspect in the January 24 shooting death of Southern University football player James Allen.
On Tuesday, Thomas turned himself in to authorities. He is currently being held in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and along with the murder charge, he is being charged with the illegal carrying of a weapon.
A warrant for second degree murder was issued for the arrest of the 27-year-old naming him as the triggerman of the gun that shot the sophomore offensive lineman in the head.
Allen was allegedly shot by Thomas outside The Varsity, a nightclub located outside the north gates of Louisiana State University, after participating in a physical altercation with another individual.
According to a statement released by police officials, while Allen was involved in the fight, Thomas shot him in the head and fled the scene.
Jags head football coach Pete Richardson has refrained from making a statement in regards to the case until authorities have thoroughly completed their investigation and have made an arrest. Now that they have, a statement is expected from the SU Athletic Department.
Although the police may have a suspect in custody, the pain of losing a fellow Jaguar still rips through the campus.
“It still scares me a little,” said Edith Wright, a mass communications major from Tuskegee, Ala. “I still feel pain for his family, his friends and the university.”
