University of Memphis Football Player Killed in Shooting

Taylor Bradford, a redshirt junior defensive lineman, transferred to Memphis after playing two seasons at Samford University.

Photo courtesy: University of Memphis

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) - The University of Memphis has canceled classes today after a football player was killed late Sunday night on the school's campus.

The school newspaper, the Daily Helmsman, identified the victim as 21-year-old Taylor Bradford, of Nashville.

According to reports, Bradford was shot in the chest and pronounced dead a short time later at the Regional Medical Center.

The victim had apparently walked out of the the Carpenter Complex, a residence hall located on Central Avenue near the northeast corner of campus, where he lived, and was in his car when the shooting occurred. The car ran into a tree a short distance from the campus.

Bradford, a redshirt junior defensive lineman, transferred to Memphis after playing two seasons at Samford University. His major was marketing.

A school offical says Bradford was a very outgoing young man.

No immediate arrests have been made.

The initial investigation indicates this was an act directed specifically toward the victim and was not a random act of violence.

If anyone has information about this tragedy, please call 901-678-4357 immediately.

Salem-News.com will have more on this story as soon as it becomes available.