The family, friends and fans of slain former NBA and Texas Tech University Hall of Fame player Andre Emmett are preparing to lay him to rest, reported CBS Dallas/Fort Worth. Emmett was also a member of 3’s Company, the professional Dallas team in Ice Cube’s BIG3 League when he was shot and killed Monday morning in Dallas.
According to CBS, the public is invited to a balloon release organized by Emmett’s childhood friends, today, Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. A wake and public viewing are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Laurel Land Funeral Homes, located at 6000 South R L Thornton Fwy. The funeral will be held Monday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at Saint Luke Community United Methodist Church, located at 5710 E R L Thornton Fwy.
The 37-year-old father of two was gunned down after being robbed at gun point while sitting in his Range Rover outside his home. Video surveillance obtained by police reveals the suspects told Emmett “don’t move” and “we want everything.”
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Realizing his life was in danger, Emmett attempted to run away, but one of the suspects ran after him and shot him. His body was discovered by someone at 2:30 a.m. at 1800 N. Prairie Avenue, according to reports.
Emmett’s family is shocked and heartbroken over the loss. They describe him as a loving father to his two and three-year-old kids who was jovial, kind and intent on helping others.
“He was an activist; he was always giving back to the community. He loved his family; he loved his little girls. He was just always showing love to everybody, I can’t say anything bad about him,” Emmett’s sister, Sasha Emmett said. “We’re so shocked, we don’t know of anybody that would want to hurt him. He wasn’t like that. He wasn’t involved in anything like that, he was strictly about basketball, his family and business and that was it.”
Police have not caught any suspects yet but hope the surveillance footage will help them identify Emmett’s murderers. His aunt, Karen Oliver-Thomas, pleaded with the community to come forth..
“It’s very difficult … very shocking and very devastating. We’re asking for the community’s help, if anyone knows anything about what happened. This is a senseless tragedy, and we do not want it to go unsolved, we do not want his death to be in vain. If anyone knows anything, we’re asking that they reach out to the police,” Oliver-Thomas said.
Emmett was the second-leading scorer in the BIG3 last season. In addition to playing basketball, Emmett ran a foundation called “Dreams Really Exist” – which is also an acronym for “DRE,” the last three letters of his first name – to help children in need.
Last month, Emmett posted a video and caption to Instagram expressing how much having the opportunity to play in his hometown and give back meant to him.
“DALLAS IS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ME….this is small glimpse of how blessed my first 2 seasons have been in the BIG 3. Playing in front of family friends and fans is a blessing. Meeting, reuniting, becoming friends, positively impacting communities with my brothers and sisters; I couldn’t ask for more. I’m grateful for this platform and will not take it for granted. 🙏🏽 thank u @thebig3 @icecube,” Emmett wrote.
Texas Tech and the BIG3 League – who named Emmett player of the week in July – posted several moving tributes to Emmett on Twitter.
Texas Tech’s head basketball coach Chris Beard said Emmett was “arguably the best player in program history and even a better person.”
Ice Cube echoed Beard’s sentiments, saying Emmett was such a good person.
“I don’t understand this world sometimes … It always hurt a little more when bad things, happen to good people,” Cube said.
