Police name people of interest they want to talk to in killing of KSU quarterback

KENNESAW, Ga. — The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office released the names and photos of three people they want to question in connection to the killing of a Kennesaw State University star quarterback.

Ladarius Clardy only got to play in two football games during last year’s shortened season.

Clardy, 18, was gunned down in his car early Thursday morning in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida.

The car was riddled with bullets before he crashed off the road.

“He was killed to the tune of over 50 rounds into his vehicle that he was driving and he had this 19-year-old passenger with him,” Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmon said during a news conference Thursday.

The passenger was taken to a hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.

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Friday night, Escambia County officials said they were looking for Taziah Dekal McHenry, Melvin Douglas Hester III and Nicholas Joseph Wells, to question them in connection to the deadly shooting.

“This is not just a statistic. This is a son, a friend, this is a teammate. Enough is enough,” Simmon said.

As the search widens for his killer, students at KSU told Channel 2′s Tom Regan that the killing is a tragic loss of a classmate and football player.

Students at the university told Regna that they were shaken by the news of Clardy’s death.

“I think it’s really tragic not just for him but for the school,” student Ian Bruce said.

“That’s just really sad,” student Kadi Doumbia said.

Clardy set an all-time passing record at this Florida high school and was recruited with great fanfare to KSU.

Even incoming students who aren’t familiar with Clardy have been touched by his untimely death.

“I’m definitely sending my condolences to his family of course,” student Whitney Day said.

KSU Athletics released a statement saying, in part:

“We are devastated and heartbroken over the death of Ladarius Clardy. Ladarius was an excellent teammate and left a mark on this program with his positive attitude. He will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ladarius’ family at this difficult time.”

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