Add CategoryFormer Seattle Seahawk Anthony ‘TJ’ Cunningham was shot multiple times by a neighbour when the pair met in a Arapahoe County, Colorado parking lot between two middle schools to settle their long-running parking spot feud, the local sheriff’s office said.
The incident occurred on Sunday and Cunningham, 46, died from his injuries on Monday.
The former player for the University of Colorado was a safety on the Seahawks during the 1996 season, until injuries ended his career.
“We were deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the death of T.J. Cunningham,” CU Athletic Director Rick George said in a statement.
“He was a good family man and had a strong passion for working with young people as evidenced by serving as an assistant high school principal.
“He was also a good alum, an active alum, and took great pride in being a Colorado Buffalo. Our hearts go out to TJ’s family on their tragic loss. We will miss him.”
More recently, Cunningham was an assistant principal at Hinkley High School in his native city of Aurora. According to a GoFundMe set up on his behalf, Cunningham was married with five children.
The alleged shooter, 31-year-old Marcus Johnson, is being held at the Arapahoe County Detention Center on a first-degree murder charge.
Officials said a physical fight about the parking space broke out between the two men on Sunday and the pair continued to taunt each other with text messages before they agreed to meet up in person to “settle it,” Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deborah Sherman told a local news affiliate.
Johnson reportedly called cops to say he’d shot his neighbour, claiming Cunningham had attacked him earlier in the day.
His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
This article first appeared in the New York Post and is republished with permission.