Teen Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Shooting Death of Calgary Stampeder Mylan Hicks

Calgary police charged 19-year-old Nelson Tony Lugela with second-degree murder in the weekend shooting death of Calgary Stampeders defensive back Mylan Hicks.

The Detroit-born Hicks, a former Michigan State Spartan and Calgary Stampeder, was shot outside Marquee Beer Market in Calgary early Sunday Morning, dying shortly later in hospital. He was 23 years old.

Investigators believe that a fight inside the club moved outside before Hicks was fatally gunned down. Lugela and two other suspects were taken into custody after returning to the scene of the crime shortly after the shooting took place. The other two suspects have been released without charges, pending further investigation.

Police also seized a firearm, as well as a vehicle that is being processed by the Forensic Crime Scene Unit.

Friends, family, and teammates are mourning the death of Hicks, who was on the Stampeders' practice roster and primed to have a promising CFL career ahead of him. Hicks, who didn't play a game with Calgary this season, signed with the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in May 2015, but was released at the end of training camp.

"The loss of this 23-year-old young man at this stage of his life and his career is an unfathomable tragedy," said Ken King, president and CEO of the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation.

Football is family & today we've lost one of our own. My thoughts are with Mylan Hicks' family, friends & — Jeffrey Orridge (@Commish13)September 25, 2016

Stampeders defensive back Joshua Bell said Hicks was considered family, and that his death was immediately felt in Calgary's locker room.

"Hicks was a dog on that football field, he was 110 percent. He knew nothing but push the button and go. It was either on or off. He was family, he family. My little bro," Bell said.

Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio is saddened by the tragic loss of the former Spartan, whose death lingers around the Spartan locker room.

"No. 6 was a beautiful person," Dantonio said about Hicks. "He just lit a room up when he walked in. He established himself as a leader on our football team in his last year, and this is just tragic. It's sort of rocked our Spartan football community.

"We're deeply saddened here. Our entire football program—coaches, staff and players—are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Mylan Hicks. We will miss him deeply."

Lugela, who was known to police and had outstanding warrants out for his arrest, is set to appear in court on Friday.