Nick Van Exel's son gets murder charge

[AHawks89]

DALLAS -- The 20-year-old son of former NBA player Nick Van Exel has been charged with capital murder in the death of a close friend, Dallas police announced Thursday.

Nickey Maxwell Van Exel was arrested Wednesday night and jailed on $1 million bond in the death of Bradley Bassey Eyo, 23. Police said Eyo was found on Sunday with a gunshot wound to his upper body near Lake Ray Hubbard, on the outskirts of Dallas.

Authorities later determined that Eyo was killed at a home in the Dallas suburb of Garland and that his body was dumped near the lake, police said.

Paul Johnson, the younger Van Exel's attorney, told The Associated Press that his client told police he shot Eyo, a longtime friend and neighbor, while the two were engaged in "horseplay" with a shotgun. He said Van Exel didn't know the gun, which belonged to his stepfather, was loaded.

After the shooting, Van Exel "panicked" and moved the body, Johnson said. Van Exel also tossed the gun in a creek, and it has yet to be found, he said.

"It's a real sad situation," Johnson said. "Emotions are running high, and, obviously, we recognize that some very bad decisions were made on how he responded."

Johnson said he was contacted by Van Exel's family on Tuesday and immediately started working with authorities. The younger Van Exel has not yet appeared in court or entered a plea.

The elder Van Exel played for the Dallas Mavericks from 2001 to 2003 as part of an NBA career that spanned 13 seasons and six teams. He is now working as player development instructor for the Atlanta Hawks, a job he began in September.

A call to the Hawks' media relations department by the AP wasn't returned. In a statement, the team said its thoughts were with the Van Exel family.

Johnson said he spoke to the elder Van Exel and that he and others who knew Eyo were deeply saddened.

"Bradley was like part of the family," Johnson said.

:help wanted3:Link.

[VanExelfan]

Been a huge fan of Nicks since I first saw him play for Cincinnati in 1993, following his whole career from the day he stepped into the NBA. This is really sad news for the Van Exel family, Nick has done so much over the years for several charities and even making many sacrifices in his own career for the good of others.

This news would crush Nick, after a rocky relationship with his own father he made sure he was always there for his son. Im sure none of us could understand what Nick Sr. and Nick Jr. are going through right now, We as Hawks fan can only offer our support and understanding at this time.

I live in Australia and am coming to Atlanta in Feb to see a Hawks game live, I was really hoping to see Nick and see if I could get an autograph and a photo with my biggest childhood hero. If anyone gets any new information about Nick Sr. status with the team can you please update it here as I will be checking on here regularly. I hope Nick wont resign or take a leave of absence but If he does I will totally understand, I wish him and his family all the best as well as the family of the victum.

[Chickenstanley]

For some reason I am asking myself how/why someone in Austrailia could possibly have developed such as fixation on.........................Nick Van Excel?

But maybe some things are better left to the imagination :)

As for always being there for his son.........

Yep, coaching in Atlanta and jet-setting around the country with the Hawks is certainly my idea of being there for ones' children. Geez, if only we could all be there for our children as much as Nick Sr. has been over the last twenty years or so --- I'm certain someone would ceate a special *Fatherhood* award in honor of us for such sacrifice !

CS

[foeteen14]

very unfortunate. i really hate guns. usta love them, but they kill people. again very unfortunate.

[coachx]

very unfortunate. i really hate guns. usta love them, but they kill people. again very unfortunate.

LOL

Ya, guns kill people like spoons made Rosie O'Donnel fat.

[VanExelfan]

Hey CS,

Considering you can not spell his surname correctly, how do you have such a good knowledge on Nick's ability as a father? Considering Nick Jr's parents have been seperated since before he even started playing in the NBA, the 2 shared custody. By your reasoning every NBA player coach official ect. must be a bad father.

As for me I feel Nick was a great player, he made 1 all-star team but believe he would have been selected for a few more if not stuck on a terrible Nuggets team during his prime. We also have television and Internet in Australia, the NBA is not foreign to us just look at the success of some Australian players who have played in the NBA.

Anyway, if anybody has some information Id appreciate if it could be posted here.

Thanks.

[Joker]

VEfan, he's in Utah with Pape Sy. I don't know when he's coming back but he should be soon.

Edited January 1, 2011 by nbasuperstar40

[VanExelfan]

Thanks nbasuperstar40 really appreciate it.

[NJHAWK]

very unfortunate. i really hate guns. usta love them, but they kill people. again very unfortunate.

Be careful talking about guns. GA is a red state where alot of moms and dads where related before marriage. Dont knock guns or the bible.

:help wanted3:Link.

The Jayson Williams defense, sweet.