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Virginia must decide on charges in death of ex-Bloomingdale athlete

Hampton University

Theo Smalling was Hampton's team captain. He played at Bloomingdale High from 2002 to 2006.

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TBO.com

Published: October 27, 2009

Updated: 10/27/2009 12:36 pm

TAMPA - Theo Smalling, a Hampton University basketball player who attended Bloomingdale High School, died Monday night after being accidentally shot over the weekend in Virginia.

Smalling died about 8:40 p.m., according to the university.

Prosecutors in Hampton will have to determine whether to file manslaughter charges in the accidental shooting, the Daily Press in Newport News, Va., reported.

Dominique Devon Smith, 21, has been charged with reckless handling of a firearm, a misdemeanor. That charge was filed after Hampton, Va., police say Smith "mishandled a firearm," the Daily Press reported.

Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney John Haugh will decide whether Smith's actions meet the legal standard of involuntary manslaughter, the Daily Press reported.

The loss of Smalling was being felt in the Tampa Bay area.

"It's a tragic accident to happen to such as a fine person," said Josh Chapin, Smalling's coach at Bloomingdale. "[Tampa] lost a great person; to see someone with so much potential go tragically is a great loss for not only this community, but also Virginia."

Smalling's family wants people to know their son "is at peace" said Chapin, who spoke with Smalling's mother, Shelly George, about midnight. The family was at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News when he died. Funeral services are being planned.

The 6-foot-7 senior turned 22 on Friday. He was in a car at a Hampton nightclub parking lot with Smith and another person just after midnight Saturday, police said. Smith "mishandled" a gun and accidentally shot Smalling, police said.

Smalling and Smith knew each other, and Smith is being cooperative, police said.

Smalling, Hampton's team captain, played at Bloomingdale from 2002 to 2006.

Chapin called Smalling on Friday to wish him happy birthday, he said, and added Smalling was looking forward to Hampton's game against the University of South Florida on Dec. 2 at the Sun Dome.

"He was one of the best I've had in my seven years as coach," said Chapin, who is now an assistant principal at Brandon High School. "He was my first class. I had him for four years. He was my first Division I player. He's probably the toughest kid I ever coached."

At Bloomingdale, Smalling scored 1,239 points and ranks 101st on the Hillsborough County all-time list.

Simone Allen, a former Riverview High basketball player, met Smalling after a game in high school. She remained in contact with Smalling throughout college and was shocked to learn about his death, she said.

"He just always has a smile on his face; he had such a passion for basketball," Allen said before beginning to cry. "He was just a good person from the beginning; his parents raised a wonderful son. It's terrible that this happened to him."

Hampton coach Ed Joyner said Smalling's death "is a devastating loss for our community."

"He was a great young man who was an asset to Hampton University on and off the court," Joyner said in a statement. "Not only was he the captain and leader of our team, but the backbone of our team. He will be with us in our hearts and minds when we step on the court."

Smalling was the model student athlete, university President William R. Harvey said in a statement.

"He was a terrific student and an all-star athlete. … He was actively involved in a great deal of community service," Harvey said. "I and the Hampton University family will truly miss him."

Smalling, a sports management major, played in 30 games as a junior for Hampton, averaging 3.3 points and a team-leading 5.3 rebounds per game.

Reporters Sarah Hoye and Nick Williams contributed to this report.

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