College football player dies in accidental shooting

A Missouri State football player died Saturday following what police are calling an accidental shooting.

Todric McGee, a 21-year-old safety, died of injuries he sustained at his residence, the school announced in a statement. The Wichita, Ks. native was a two-year starter and was preparing for his fifth season with the Bears.

“On behalf of the university and our entire department, we want to express our condolences to Todric’s family, friends and teammates,” said Missouri State athletic director Patrick Ransdell said in a statement. “This tragedy has shaken our football program to the core, and we want them to know we are here to support them in every way possible at this extremely difficult time.”

Springfield Police told Wyatt D. Wheeler of the Springfield News-Leader that officers responded to a wellness check Friday and discovered McGee with a “possible accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.” He was hospitalized and later died from his injuries, and an investigation is ongoing.

McGee was an all-conference safety in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2023, when he garnered 102 total tackles. He also earned preseason second-team all-conference honors in 2024 as a redshirt junior. He played in five games last season before suffering a season-ending injury, and had one more year of eligibility remaining.

Missouri State is set to begin play in Conference USA this season, and the expectation was that McGee would retain his role as a starting safety.