Missouri State football player Todric McGee has died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities confirmed. The starting safety passed away on April 19 after being rushed from his home to a nearby hospital.
Known for his infectious smile and strong work ethic, McGee’s untimely death has left the university community and teammates in mourning.
“He wasn’t depressed, there’s no mental issues or anything like that that would make this happen, it’s just a tragic accident, and I just want people to know that you know he’s a good kid,” McGee’s mother, Stephanie Pope, told KYTV.
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Last year, McGee, 21, launched a GoFundMe campaign to support his mother after she suffered a brain aneurysm, according to the Springfield News-Leader.
“He was a 20, 21-year-old kid who saw his mom in a different light,” McGee’s high school football coach, Steve Martin, told the newspaper. “To see him be selfless and come back and want to be around mom and help her out pays tribute to the type of home he grew up in. They were tight-knit. Todric didn’t lose any of that, and he just gained more appreciation for all the things Steph did for him.”
On Monday, friends and family of McGee gathered at Plaster Stadium to honor his memory with a balloon release and heartfelt tributes.
The devoted student-athlete, known for his love of travel and admiration for his sister—a Division 1 basketball player in Texas—was preparing to enter his fifth season with Missouri State football this fall.
“He was always there, and he was just everything. He was a sibling I needed,” McGee’s sister Tahlia Pope told KYTV.
And his friends and teammates regarded him family.
“He was a lighthearted person,” Zaire Adkins told the News-Leader. “He was always joking around and explaining things in the funniest way. His smile was contagious and infectious. He was always smiling and laughing.”
Added Adkins, “None of us wants to believe it. I know it’s going to bring us all back together, and it’s going to make us stronger. But for how this happened and why this happened at this time of his life… it just sucks.”
