Olympic sprinter Shavez Hart, 29, died after being shot outside of a nightclub after attempting to break up a fight between a group of individuals around 2am on Saturday.
According to TMZ who broke the story, Hart was in a North Abaco based club in the Bahamas when the altercation occurred. Witnesses who spoke to the police said that as a fight broke out, Hart attempted to calm things down but one of the individuals, who appeared to be leaving, returned with a firearm and shot Hart.
The shooter was arrested by the local authorities, but Hart was pronounced dead from a fatal bullet wound to the chest according to doctors at Marsh Harbour Clinic. His death occurred four days before he would have turned thirty.
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After the news of Hart’s death broke, the Bahamas Olympic Committee issued a statement regarding the olympian’s tragic death.
“The Olympic family is saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Shavez Hart, a proud native of Abaco,” the statement said. “He was always very humble, yet proud and determined to offer the very best of him for the sake of his country.”
His mother, in an interview with the Nassau Guardian, expressed her deep sadness, saying “He was such a good son – very quiet and always helpful. He did a lot of work in the community and was always trying to give back. I will certainly miss him.”
Texas A&M head coach Pat Henry, who coached Hart during his time as a student athlete, also issued a statement following the news of Hart’s death.
“This is so tragic. Shavez Hart was, of course, one of our finest athletes ever, but he was one of the kindest people I have met and such a soft-spoken man,” said Henry. “Words can’t describe the loss that the Aggie track & field family is feeling. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Hart competed in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He now leaves behind a wife and son.
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