Former UCF, University Christian football star Otis Anderson Jr. killed in Northside shooting: sources

2 years ago 244

Father arrested aft shooting, charged with first-degree murder, sources said

Central Florida's Otis Anderson (2) returns a punt for a agelong touchdown against Pittsburgh during an NCAA assemblage shot game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, successful Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Keith Srakocic, Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former University of Central Florida and University Christian shot prima Otis Anderson Jr. died successful a treble shooting Monday night that besides near a pistillate hospitalized — neighbors, News4JAX sources, erstwhile teammates and UCF leaders said Tuesday.

MORE: ‘He loved everybody:’ Otis Anderson Jr.’s interaction went beyond shot field

Otis Lee Anderson Sr. — who is Anderson Jr.’s father, according to aggregate sources — was arrested pursuing the shooting and booked into Duval County Jail connected Tuesday morning. He is present accused of first-degree execution and first-degree attempted murder.

Anderson Sr. appeared successful beforehand of a justice Tuesday afternoon. The justice said they recovered probable origin connected some charges and appointed the Public Defender’s bureau to correspond him. Anderson Sr. volition beryllium held connected nary enslaved and his adjacent tribunal quality was acceptable for Dec. 22.

JSO said during a quality league aboriginal Tuesday greeting it believed the radical progressive successful the shooting are each related but didn’t accidental how. News4JAX is inactive moving to corroborate the individuality of the pistillate unfortunate successful the shooting.

The Sheriff’s Office said the shooting happened astir 9:30 p.m. successful the Forest Trails country adjacent I-295 and Dunn Avenue.

Investigators said it began arsenic a home incidental and don’t deliberation anyone other was involved.

After leaving UCF, Anderson Jr. was concisely a subordinate of the Los Angels Rams this season. Anderson Jr. spent grooming campy with the Rams aft going undrafted successful the 2021 NFL Draft but was chopped from the signifier squad successful September, according to CBS Sports.

Los Angeles Rams moving backmost Otis Anderson warms up earlier a preseason NFL shot crippled against the Las Vegas Raiders Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, successful Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Anderson Jr. played assemblage shot astatine UCF wherever helium was a large play waiting to happen. He finished his vocation with 2,182 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. Anderson had 1,025 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns.

“Being an existent shot player, that mightiness bring tears to my eyes the archetypal time,” he told News4JAX earlier this year.

Fans, reporters, friends and erstwhile teammates were devastated aft quality of his decease dispersed connected societal media Tuesday morning.

Thank you Marc. My little enactment with him was peculiar - helium cared precise profoundly for UCF. I’m hopeful that each who knew him tin someway find peace, particularly his teammates. https://t.co/NnQEivTswG

— Terry Mohajir (@TerryMohajirAD) November 30, 2021

Otis Anderson Jr. had a grin that would airy up a room. It was truthful overmuch amusive talking with this young antheral during his clip astatine #UCF. I’m stunned by the quality today. Thoughts are with his household and friends.

— Matt Murschel (@osmattmurschel) November 30, 2021

She is my Sister and my bosom is DESTROYED for her determination are not capable words that tin adjacent beryllium spoken to recognize losing your lone lad I emotion you @nymzdee 💔🙏🏾‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️💙 pic.twitter.com/rQfz5AAy5u

— DSnelsonMom-UCFMOMFOREVER‼️ (@Mia8753) November 30, 2021

Such heartbreaking quality to aftermath up to this greeting astir erstwhile @UCF_Football and @UCChristians shot prima Otis Anderson Jr. Great kid. So galore stories astir him signing autographs for radical astatine UCF, encouraging kids, etc. Was a stud astatine UC and adjacent amended successful college. pic.twitter.com/aIUmUKOwo8

— Justin Barney (@JustinBarneyTV) November 30, 2021

I nonaccomplishment 1 of my closest friends past night, I americium not okay.

— Kelton Jordan Johnson (@3rdJohnsonboy) November 30, 2021

Editor’s Note: Neither Anderson is connected to Ottis Anderson, the MVP of Super Bowl XXV successful 1991 erstwhile playing with the New York Giants who played assemblage shot astatine the University of Miami.