Ohio State Soccer Player Shot During Car Chase Near Campus

soccer player from Ohio State University was shot this week during a car chase near the school’s campus, officials said.

The Incident

The university reported that junior defender Nathan Demian—a native of Vancouver, British Columbia—was an innocent bystander during the incident early Sunday.

The Columbus Police Department reported that the shooting took place shortly before 2:30 a.m. local time during a chase between two vehicles with someone in one car firing at the other.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, the city’s police department responded to a neighborhood near the Ohio State University campus following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival to the scene, they discovered that Demian sustained a gunshot wound.
Following the shooting, Demian was taken to the OSU Wexner Medical Center in serious condition, The Columbus Dispatch reported. However, the soccer player is expected to survive.

Response From Ohio State University

In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the Ohio State University Department of Athletics said “Following the Ohio State men’s soccer match with Wake Forest Saturday, redshirt junior Nathan Demian from Vancouver, British Columbia was a victim of an off-campus shooting.”

“He was an innocent bystander, is not a suspect in any way and was not involved in any altercation. The soccer program is thankful for the incredible university support and medical care available to Nathan and his family during this difficult time,” the statement said. “Nathan’s family is with him, and the team is extremely close. The family has asked that everyone keep Nathan in their prayers. The department will do all it can to support Nathan, his family and the men’s soccer program in every way possible.”

Because of the police investigation underway the department will not be able to discuss the incident further,” the statement added.

On Monday, Ohio State men’s soccer coach Brian Maisonneuve spoke with reporters on a Zoom conference about the incident, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

“We’re going to miss him on the field. But he’s such a huge personality,” Maisonneuve said during the conference, according to The Columbus Dispatch. “He really gets everybody going in practice and in games. He has got a great voice. He’s a character in the best way possible. And, like I said, his play speaks for itself. He’s a competitor, and it’s going to be tough not to have him out there.”