A university of Akron football player was shot Saturday after his teammate mistook him for a burglar, newsnet5.com’s media partner Akron Beacon Journal and ohio.com reported.
According to the ohio.com report, 22-year-old receiver Andrew Pratt, of Green, and 23-year-old offensive tackle Scott Boyett, of Florida, live in separate apartments at an off-campus home on Rentschler Street.
Police said Pratt entered Boyett’s apartment at around 3 a.m. without announcing himself or knocking on the door.
That’s when Boyett shot Pratt in the stomach, thinking he was a burglar.
Boyett took Pratt to the emergency room at Akron Children’s Hospital, where the players told police the shooting was an “honest mistake.” Police said players told officers the same story of what occurred that night.
Pratt is in stable condition and expected to recover.
No charges are expected to be filed since both players agree the shooting was an accident.
UA Athletics Director Larry Williams issued the following statement to newsnet5.com about the incident:
“We are saddened and concerned to learn of this situation and we hope that Andrew recovers fully,” he wrote. “While we know the incident occurred at an off-campus location, we will wait to learn more from the Akron Police Department about what occurred. We are keeping Andrew in our thoughts and prayers.”
