Former Yates High School Basketball Star, Melvin Swift, Fatally Shot in Houston


21 year old Melvin Swift, a former high school star at Yates in Houston, TX., was shot and killed Tuesday night.

The 6'8 Trinity Valley Community College power forward, back home in Houston for the holidays, may have been involved in a home burglary which led to the shooting.

The Police released the following statement on the investigation:

"The fatal shooting of a male suspect at 3427 Jorns that occurred about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday (Dec. 29) will be referred to a Harris County grand jury.

The identity of the male suspect is pending notification to family members by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant T. Ruland and Officer J. Saldana reported:

The male resident of the above address returned to his home with several family members.  The resident's young daughter went to her bedroom and was startled by an unknown black male suspect armed with a knife.  As the suspect attempted to exit the house he began fighting with the resident and other family members.  The resident, fearing for his family's safety, then fired a gun at the suspect, striking him in the leg.  The suspect was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The investigation continues."

The Police didn't identify the suspect as Swift but family members confirmed he was shot and killed at that location.

Swift was being recruited by several Division 1 teams including Arkansas, Maryland, Memphis and SMU.

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