Tyler Honeycutt, a former star for the UCLA Bruins who played parts of two seasons in the NBA, was found dead on Friday inside his home after a violent standoff with the police.
He was 27 years old.
The details behind Honeycutt’s death are both sad and bizarre.
The Los Angeles Police Department and L.A. Fire Department told USA Today, TMZ and other media outlets that a man with a firearm shot at officers around5p.m. on Friday, prior to barricading himself inside his Sherman Oaks, California home for nine hours.
The SWAT team eventually arrived and entered the residence … only to find Honeycutt lying on the ground, unresponsive.
On Saturday afternoon, the official LAPD Twitter account die not cite Honeycutt by name, but did provide an update on the situation from the evening before, writing:
Regarding last nights Officer-Involved Shooting in Van Nuys Division, it appears as if the suspect was not struck by any officer’s gunfire.
The suspect appears to have sustained injuries consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
TMZ reports that a gun was found inside the premises, near Honeycutt’s body, and it is presumed he took his own life.
This same website says that Honeycutt’s mother was the person who called police Friday, saying her son was acting erratically on Friday.
The former college star’s family has confirmed his passing to a local ABC affiliate, while his agent has done the same to the Russian team for whom Honeycutt had been playing professionally.
No officers were injured in the altercation, according to LAPD.
Meanwhile, several residents in the area had been evacuated as a precaution.
Honeycutt earned All-Pac-10 First Team honors in 2011 as a sophomore, leading his team to the NCAA Tournament.
He was then drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the second roundon tha NBA Draft, playing sporadically for two seasons with them, before heading to Europe to continue his career.
He most recently played with Moscow’s BC Khimki.
Former Kings teammate DeMarcus Cousins was one of several players to mourn Honeycutt’s death on social media, Tweeting this afternoon after the tragic news broke:
“Prayers up for his family and friends. Rest easy bro!”
Honeycutt’s coach at Khimki, Giorgios Bartzokas, was too overwhelmed to comment, saying simply when asked by reporters:
“I am sorry I cannot talk right now, I am really sad.”
Added New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday:
“Still can’t believe this… Rest In Peace to my brother Tyler Honeycutt.”
Our thoughts and condolences go out to the friends, family members and loved ones of Tyler Honeycutt.
May he rest in peace.
