TALLAHASSEE — Gavin Yates-Lyons, an 18-year-old freshman defensive back on the Ball State football team, died on Saturday, May 30, 2026. He had been hospitalized in critical condition after being shot during a shooting at a Tallahassee parking garage in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Yates-Lyons was among three victims injured in the incident. The other two victims, both adult males, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting occurred at an unsanctioned pop-up party at a parking garage outside of Legacy Suites Apartments in Tallahassee. The suspect or suspects remain at large, and the investigation is open and active, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.
Yates-Lyons had returned to Lowndes County, Georgia, to attend his high school graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 23, 2026—the day before the shooting. A graduate of Lowndes County High School, he signed with the Ball State Cardinals on early signing day in December 2025 and finished high school early to enroll at the university in January 2026. He spent the spring semester participating in team practices with the Cardinals.
Ball State football confirmed Yates-Lyons’s death in a social media post on Sunday morning, May 31, 2026. "Gavin was an extraordinary person and it is difficult to express the grief we all feel. Our hearts are with his family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. Thank you to the Ball State admin, staff and community for the support of our players and staff as we mourn," said Pete Roley, Ball State football chief of staff.
The Lowndes County High School football page also posted a tribute, writing "Forever Young. Forever a Viking." A GoFundMe created on behalf of Yates-Lyons’s family described him as someone who "excelled as a football player and was known for his respectful nature, kind heart, and deep love for his family and friends." Yates-Lyons became an organ donor to save the lives of others.