Chandler Wyatt Stalcup, an 18-year-old freshman football player at Rocky Mountain College, met a tragic end over the weekend. The incident occurred in Billings, Montana, and authorities have apprehended two teenagers in connection with the fatal shooting.
Chandler, hailing from Crystal River, Florida, was shot in the early hours of Saturday and remained on life support until Monday, when his organs were donated, as confirmed by the Yellowstone County Coroner’s Office to KULR-TV.
The unfortunate event unfolded when police responded to a report of a discharged firearm during a house party scuffle around 3 a.m. on Saturday. Simultaneously, they received a distressing call about the shooting near the college campus. Police Lt. Matt Lennick disclosed that a 16-year-old male suspect was apprehended about six hours later and was being held in juvenile detention, with investigators recommending a deliberate homicide charge. A second suspect, a 17-year-old male, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of accountability to deliberate homicide and is also in juvenile detention.
According to Lennick, the altercation began when Stalcup, who had gone to the house party to pick someone up, engaged in a heated exchange with one of the suspects. The confrontation escalated as both parties left in separate vehicles, culminating in Stalcup being shot in the road near the campus.
Stalcup, a defensive lineman who played in one game this season, had a promising future ahead. Rocky Mountain College, an NAIA school in the Frontier Conference, responded to the tragedy by postponing all athletic events, including a men’s basketball game in Great Falls, two soccer matches, and a volleyball match on Saturday. The football team had a bye on Saturday.
A profound sense of grief enveloped the campus, with approximately 200 students and staff gathering for a prayer service on Saturday night. Crystal River High School expressed condolences, remembering Stalcup as an outstanding student and athlete who embodied a strong sense of character. The school community, deeply saddened by this tragic loss, extended their hearts and prayers to the Stalcup family.