A Washburn University football player from Lee's Summit whose friend and teammate had just been chosen in the NFL draft was shot to death at a party in Topeka.
Dwane Simmons, 23, played high school football at Lee's Summit West.
Corey Ballentine was injured in the shooting and was recovering at a hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery. Ballentine was chosen in the sixth round by the New York Giants as a defensive back.
Police in Topeka say gunshots were reported shortly before 1:00 a.m. Sunday. They found Simmons dead when they arrived at the site of the shooting.
"His life was filled with so much love and so much potential that was robbed from us," said Yasmine Simmons, stepmother.Yasmine Simmons described the heartbreaking conversation she had while breaking the news to Dwane's younger brother.
"I said, no buddy, we won't be able to watch him play any more football games."



