Newberry College football player Mycheal Edwards-Wallace killed in shooting

Mycheal Edwards-Wallace, an incoming freshman football player at Newberry College in South Carolina, was one of two people killed in a shooting at a Kingstree (SC) apartment complex on June 29. Wallace was a recent graduate of Kingstree High School, where he was named Male Athlete of the Year.

Wallace was one of four victims in the shooting, alongside 16-year-old Edwin Cooper. According to WCSC 5 News, “EMS took the other three victims to an area hospital for treatment and one of them later died from their injuries.

“Dispatchers received a call about a shooting at an apartment complex in the 200 block of North Brooks Street at approximately 8:16 p.m. Sunday,” Kingstree Police Chief Kimberly Marlowe said. “Police found four victims, one of whom died at the scene.” As of Sunday night, no arrests had been made.

The fatal shooting in Kingstree, SC was the fifth to occur in the area since June 10, 2023.

Newberry College and Newberry head coach released statements

Newberry College head coach Todd Knight, who is entering his 17th year at the helm, released a statement on the passing of Edwards-Wallace.

“Our hearts go out to his family,” Knight said in a statement. “It’s such a tragedy for a talented young man to be struck down at a young age. He was a good student and a great young man with a terrific personality and a bright future. We were really excited to have him as a part of our team. He will always be a part of our Newberry family.”

Under Knight, the Newberry College Wolves have made four playoff appearances and won the South Atlantic Conference Championship on three occasions (2016, 2021 and 2022). Edwards-Wallace likely would have been a member of yet another successful Newberry team.

Along with the head coach, Newberry College released a full statement as well.

“Newberry College is mourning the loss of incoming football student-athlete Mycheal Edwards-Wallace. Edwards-Wallace was an offensive and defensive lineman for Kingstree High School. He was a South Carolina Football Coaches Association Class AA all-state selection, as well as an all-area and all-region pick as a senior. He also participated in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, the nation’s oldest high school all-star game, featuring 44 of the top players from North Carolina and South Carolina.”

Edwards-Wallace’s college football career was slated to begin on September 13 against Point University, but that will no longer be a reality due to yet another tragic example of gun violence in this country. Edwards-Wallace was 18 years old.