Northern Illinois linebacker Devon Butler remains hospitalized Thursday morning in a Neurointensive Care unit, the DeKalb Daily Chronicle is reporting.
Butler was shot once in the upper right portion of his back after two men allegedly opened fire with a 9mm handgun on an apartment in which the LB was visiting friends Tuesday night. As was the case yesterday, Butler is still listed in critical condition.
Two NIU students -- Mark O. Orozco, 24, and Richard F. Van Arsdale III, 20 -- have been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. Their bonds have been set at $1 million each.
Police believe the shooting stemmed from a drug deal that had gone wrong earlier in the day. It’s also being stressed by the police that Butler had nothing to do with the drug deal, and that he just happened to be visiting a man the suspects believed took marijuana without paying for the product.
NIU released statements Wednesday addressing Butler’s shooting.
“All our thoughts and prayers as a team and as a coaching staff right now are with Devon,” NIU head coach Dave Doeren said in a release. “He’s a member of our family and the most important thing is his health.”
“As an athletic department and as a university, I know that we are going to support Devon, his family and his teammates in every way we can,” athletic director Jeff Compher said. “Our primary focus is on all of our student-athletes at this time.”