Talk about sad news. Philadelphia native and Los Angeles Lakers guard Wayne Ellington will be taking a leave of absence from the team after learning that his father, Wayne Ellington Sr. was shot and killed in his hometown of Philadelphia.
“My family and I are devastated by the news of my father’s murder on Sunday night in Philadelphia,” Ellington said in a statement on the Lakers’ website. “We appreciate everyone’s support and ask that you respect the privacy of our family during this very difficult time.”
The Philadelphia Daily News reported this surrounding Ellington Sr.’s death:
“Wayne Ellington, a 26-year-old shooting guard who played for Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, was signed by the Lakers in September. His father, who shares his name, was found inside an Oldsmobile about 8 p.m. Sunday night with a gunshot wound to the head, according to police.
The older Ellington died later Sunday night at Albert Einstein Medical Center. Police on Tuesday said they have no motive in the man’s slaying and no suspects.”
