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Roommate charged in player's death
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Police have charged a roommate in the fatal stabbing of Middle Tennessee State University basketball player Tina Stewart.
The junior guard from Memphis was pronounced dead at a Murfreesboro hospital after police answering a disturbance call Wednesday night found her stabbed at her apartment.
Tina Stewart, a 21-year-old junior from Memphis, averaged 5.5 points and 2.5rebounds in 28 games this season.
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lisa Marchesoni said 18-year-old Shanterrica Madden was charged with first degree murder in Stewart's death. She is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.
Police spokesman Kyle Evans said Madden stabbed Stewart during an argument.
Two others were ruled out as suspects after police interviewed them.
The 21-year-old Stewart had multiple wounds when authorities found her, Evans said. She was taken to Middle Tennessee Medical Center and was later pronounced dead.
Stewart averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 28 games this season for the Blue Raiders (23-6). MTSU is the No. 1 seed from the East in the Sun Belt Conference tournament, which starts Saturday in Hot Springs, Ark.
The team is scheduled to leave for the tournament on Friday, according to The Tennessean of Nashville.
The school announced on its website that a memorial vigil will be held at 7 p.m. ET Thursday at the Murphy Center on campus.
Middle Tennessee president Sidney McPhee, who spoke with Stewart's father, said at a news conference that the entire university is grieving over the death of "a wonderful, talented and vibrant young woman." McPhee said Stewart had spent the past three Thanksgivings with his family because she could not return home for the holiday.
"The anguish I feel as a father and a president ... but personally as a father with a daughter about the age of Tina cannot adequately be expressed with words," McPhee said.
Counselors have been alerted to help on campus.
Athletic director Chris Massaro was emotional at the news conference.
"This is an unspeakable tragedy to one of our family members," Massaro said. "Our biggest concern is with Tina and her family. The team is devastated, but we'll work through this together ... one step at a time."
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Police have charged a roommate in the fatal stabbing of Middle Tennessee State University basketball player Tina Stewart.
The junior guard from Memphis was pronounced dead at a Murfreesboro hospital after police answering a disturbance call Wednesday night found her stabbed at her apartment.
Tina Stewart, a 21-year-old junior from Memphis, averaged 5.5 points and 2.5rebounds in 28 games this season.
Rutherford County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Lisa Marchesoni said 18-year-old Shanterrica Madden was charged with first degree murder in Stewart's death. She is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.
Police spokesman Kyle Evans said Madden stabbed Stewart during an argument.
Two others were ruled out as suspects after police interviewed them.
The 21-year-old Stewart had multiple wounds when authorities found her, Evans said. She was taken to Middle Tennessee Medical Center and was later pronounced dead.
Stewart averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 28 games this season for the Blue Raiders (23-6). MTSU is the No. 1 seed from the East in the Sun Belt Conference tournament, which starts Saturday in Hot Springs, Ark.
The team is scheduled to leave for the tournament on Friday, according to The Tennessean of Nashville.
The school announced on its website that a memorial vigil will be held at 7 p.m. ET Thursday at the Murphy Center on campus.
Middle Tennessee president Sidney McPhee, who spoke with Stewart's father, said at a news conference that the entire university is grieving over the death of "a wonderful, talented and vibrant young woman." McPhee said Stewart had spent the past three Thanksgivings with his family because she could not return home for the holiday.
"The anguish I feel as a father and a president ... but personally as a father with a daughter about the age of Tina cannot adequately be expressed with words," McPhee said.
Counselors have been alerted to help on campus.
Athletic director Chris Massaro was emotional at the news conference.
"This is an unspeakable tragedy to one of our family members," Massaro said. "Our biggest concern is with Tina and her family. The team is devastated, but we'll work through this together ... one step at a time."
