Former Purdue QB Eric Hunter shot and killed in fast-food parking lot
Ex-Purdue quarterback Eric Hunter was found shot in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in Hampton, Virginia, late Wednesday night.
Per ABC 13 in Virginia, police responded to a call of shots fired in the parking lot of a combination KFC and Taco Bell just before Wednesday. Authorities found Hunter shot in the parking lot. Hunter was taken to a hospital but died before he arrived there.
He was 46.
Hunter played at Purdue from 1989-92. A native of Hampton, he was the quarterback of the team’s state championship team in 1988. Hunter’s high school coach spoke to the Hampton Daily-Press about his death.
“He was one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around,” said Mike Smith, who has been Hampton’s football coach since 1971. “Very athletic, big arm, strong kid, could throw the ball through a building. Just a tough, hard-nosed kid.”
“He was always a great person around us and always had a big smile. He wasn’t a guy to go out and cause trouble. But I think the recent years had been pretty challenging for him. It’s tragic. A sad, sad time,” Smith said.
Both outlets noted that a motive for the shooting is unknown. A witness working at a nearby convenience store told the Daily Press he heard eight shots but didn’t see anything.
Hunter played in 11 games in each of his four seasons with Purdue. His best season was in 1990 when he was 200-366 passing for 2,355 yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Hunter finished his career with a near 52 percent completion percentage, 5,598 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
