Idaho cornerback Eric McMillan of Murrieta Valley, Calif., was pronounced dead by an attending physician at Gritman Memorial Hospital early Monday morning after being shot on Sunday afternoon at his apartment in Moscow, Idaho.
According to law enforcement
releases, brothers Matthew R. Wells II, 27, and James J. Wells, 25, of Seattle, were arrested Sunday evening after a high-speed pursuit concluded on Interstate 90, 150 miles west of Moscow. The suspects were booked into the Whitman County Jail. No motive has been
determined, but an investigation
is under way.
McMillan, 19, walked downstairs after sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest and had a neighbor drive him to the hospital, a local news outlet reported.
“It’s an unfortunate situation, and our heart goes out to the family involved,” Idaho athletics director Rob Spear told The Associated Press. “Our first priority is to take care of the family and help them through this very difficult time.”
McMillan had 10 total tackles and one pass interception in three games this fall. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2003.
“We’ll deal with this as a football family and get through this together,” Idaho head coach Nick Holt told the AP after a team meeting Monday.
The Ducks football squad suffered a similar tragedy to one of its newly acquired family members last summer. On Aug. 12, incoming freshman linebacker Terrance Kelly, from De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., was shot and killed outside the home of a family friend.
“I’m sure he (Holt) has a lot of things to deal with,” Oregon headcoach Mike Bellotti said. “It’s one of those things that is unfortunately becoming far too common and it’s a terrible tragedy.”
Bellotti said his team expressed
its reactions with two sympathy cards and will hold a moment of silence before Saturday’s game to honor McMillan.
Idaho’s defense now must rely even more on seniors Chris Nathan and J.R. Ruffin to anchor the
cornerback position. Junior college transfers Lawrence Guynes and Herbert Cash, along
with freshman Kyle Williams, will provide a substantial amount of depth.
McMillan was honored as an all-league, All-Valley and All-California Interscholastic Federation athlete during his senior year at Murrieta Valley High School in California. He recorded four interceptions and broke up 10 passes that year.
The University of Idaho has established a memorial fund in McMillan’s name. Donations can be made at any FirstBank location in Idaho, Oregon or Washington.

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