Darris Morris died Friday night. He was a two-time all-conference
linebacker in the South Atlantic Conference. He helped lead his team to last
year's Division II semifinals.
More than 900 people gathered at the school's chapel for a memorial
service. They read Bible passages and sang hymns, but said little as they
left the chapel.
``He was the most genuine person I ever met,'' said Marvin Moore, an
assistant coach who often played games with Morris on the weekends.
Friends called him a natural leader who was determined to live life to
the fullest.
``He would come around in the morning, grab my feet and pull me out of
bed,'' Nick Means said. ``When I complained, he said, `What you gonna' do?
Sleep your life away?'''
Morris had been suspended for a month several semesters ago for breaking
an athletic department rule officials would not disclose. The punishment
changed him, athletic director Dennis Davidson said.
``He really became a leader after that,'' Davidson said. ``He became an
outstanding citizen of the campus. He was growing like you like to see a
college student do.''
Morris and other Catawba students attending a dorm party Friday argued
with some students from nearby Livingstone College. The reason for the
argument isn't clear. Outside, the Livingstone students began firing with at
least one gun pulled from a parked car, police said.
Morris, 21, of Batesburg, S.C., was killed, and two other Catawba
athletes were injured.
Demetrius Phipps, 19, a sophomore from Newport News, Va. who plays
basketball, was treated for gunshot wounds to his arm and leg and released.
Bradley McCrary, 20, of Lexington, a wide receiver on the Indians'
football team was shot in the leg and released from Rowan Regional Medical
Center on Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Six Livingstone students were charged in Morris' murder: Ricardo Battle,
19, of Stone Mountain, Ga.; Terrence Austin, 19, of Atlanta; Morris Lee
Brannon, 20, of Des Moines, Iowa; Karl Anthony Wilson, 19, Atlanta; Corey
Peterson of Salisbury; and Isaac Lamon Brazeal, 19, of Battleboro.
All remained in jail Sunday with no bond allowed. They are scheduled to
make court appearances Monday.
Battle and Austin each received minor head injuries after a shootout with
a security guard for Catawba as they drove away from campus.
Investigators later seized 42 grams of marijuana and a small amount crack
cocaine from the car the Livingstone students were in, Salisbury Deputy
Chief Mark Wilhelm said.
Battle has denied shooting anyone. Other suspects did not make
statements.
