QB At Minn. Community College Shot, Killed In Ind.
BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) -- Dominique Corder, a standout quarterback at a community college in Brainerd, Minn., was shot and killed early Saturday in his hometown of Indianapolis, police said.
Corder, 20, who led Central Lakes College to a 10-2 record this season, was shot about 12:40 a.m. Indianapolis police spokeswoman Linda Jackson said Corder was seen talking to someone in an SUV and then was shot in the abdomen. He died at a hospital.
The SUV fled the scene, and police were asking anyone with information to come forward. Jackson said they had no suspects.
Corder's aunt, Sandra Washington, told The Associated Press her nephew had stepped outside his grandmother's house to wish his friends across the street a happy new year. She said witnesses told the family a vehicle was parked in front of the home, and when Corder asked the driver to move down the street someone fired a shot.
"They took somebody away in the prime of his life," she said. "He had so much going for him. Now we'll never see him marry, we'll never see him have children. And if he would have had a professional (football) career we'll never see that."
Corder's final game with the Central Lakes College Raiders was a 23-13 loss last month to Glendale (Ariz.) Community College in the Valley of the Sun Bowl in Arizona.
The sophomore was named his team's MVP of that game, as well as a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American.
Corder was an athletic and speedy quarterback, said Jim Strohmeier, offensive coordinator for Central Lakes College.
"I've never coached a quarterback who had as much athletic ability," he told the AP. "It was his running ability more than anything."
He said Corder was just starting to get recruited by Division I schools and hoped to play for an Indiana college close to home.
"He grew up in a rough neighborhood," Strohmeier said. "He said he wanted a college education so he could go back to where he grew up and make it a better place."
Central Lakes football coach Greg Medeck remembered Corder as a man of great character who was driven to succeed. He released a statement lauding Corder's leadership skills and called him an inspiration.
WCCO-TV's Dennis Douda Reports
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