College Football Player Dies from Head Injury Shortly After Conflicting Reports of His Death

Aaron M. Sprecher/AP

A college football player died Wednesday from a head injury he sustained in October. The news came shortly after reports that he was still alive.

Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr., 20, suffered the injury during the the Magic City Classic — a game against Alabama State — on Oct. 26. He left the field on a stretcher and was taken to a local hospital.

According to a GoFundMe page set up by his sister Dominece James, Burnett “had several brain bleeds and swelling of the brain.” After two days, she continued, doctors had to resort to a craniotomy to help try to save his life.

“Please pray,” she said in a Nov. 27 update. “He is having a tough time but we are holding on til the very end. God give us strength so we can keep the faith.”

The university initially announced Burnett’s death early Wednesday. That statement, however, was later retracted when university officials learned that he was still alive at the time. In its updated statement, the university said it was told by an “immediate family member” that Burnett had died.

Not long after that correction, Burnett died. According to a report from CBS 42, Jefferson County Coroner Matt Angelo confirmed the latest update Friday. Burnett was pronounced dead at 5:43 p.m. Wednesday at UAB Hospital.