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Minnesota Vikings to cover rookie Khyree Jackson's funeral expenses and pay his full $827,000 signing bonus to his estate after the 24-year-old was killed in a car crash this month
The Minnesota Vikings will pay out the remainder of Khyree Jackson's $827,000 signing bonus to the late cornerback's estate after the 24-year-old NFL rookie was killed in a car crash earlier this month.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah revealed the plans on Monday, saying that the team would also cover a large portion of his funeral expenses and players will wear a Jackson sticker on their helmets in 2024.
O'Connell opened up to reporters Monday by describing what it was like to learn about the fatal car crash.
'It's the call all coaches fear more than anything,' he said. 'To get that phone call and know that not only Khyree, but two other tragic lives were lost. All young adults gone way too early. It leaves you heartbroken.'
Jackson and two of his former high school teammates were killed in an early morning car crash on July 6 in Maryland.
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson (pictured) was killed in the July 6 car crash
He and Isaiah Hazel died at the scene, while Anthony Lytton, Jr., was pronounced dead at a hospital after the three-car crash in Prince George´s County, according to Maryland State Police. Lytton was 24 and Hazel was 23.
The three were in the same vehicle just after 3am when it was struck by another vehicle that was speeding and changing lanes, police said.
The Vikings released a statement saying the team spoke to Jackson's family, and is 'devastated by the news.'
'I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree,' Adofo-Mensah said at the time. 'As we got to know him throughout the pre-draft process, it was clear the goals Khyree wanted to accomplish both professionally and personally.
'His story was one of resilience. He was taking steps to become the best version of himself not just for him, but for those who cared about and looked up to him.'
Jackson was a fourth-round draft pick by the Vikings in April. He played two years at Alabama before finishing his college career with one season at Oregon.
Jackson was in the running to earn a starting cornerback job at the team's training camp, which opens later this month in Eagan, Minnesota.
'I am absolutely crushed by this news,' O´Connell said earlier this month. 'Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him.'
Hazel played college football at Maryland and Charlotte, and Lytton played at Florida State and Penn State.
The three won a state championship together at Maryland's Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School, which paid tribute to them in a social media post.
Hazel was driving, and Jackson and Lytton were passengers in a Dodge Charger, which veered off the road after being hit and struck multiple tree stumps, police said.
Investigators believe the driver of a second vehicle traveling north attempted to change lanes 'at a high rate of speed' when it collided with the car driven by Hazel and a third vehicle.
His high school teammates Anthony Lytton Jr. (L) and Isaiah Hazel (R) also died in the wreck
Nobody was injured in the second or third vehicles.
Investigators say alcohol might have been a contributing factor in the crash and charges could be coming.
Jackson was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection by The Associated Press last season after tying for second in the conference with three interceptions. His college career began in junior college in 2019.
'RIP Khyree... Love you,' Oregon coach Dan Lanning posted on social media. 'At a loss for words. I will miss your smile. Great player, better person.'
A remembrance vigil setup at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Maryland for Jackson spawned more tragedy when a deadly shooting broke out on July 13.
One man died and a woman was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting that took place after the vigil had finished, according to police.
Khyree Jackson #DB16 of Oregon celebrates after a broad jump during the NFL Combine
Police are currently investigating what led to the shooting. According to Fox 5 DC, shots rang out in the parking lot in front of the school.
One victim was hit in the leg while the other was hit in the chest. Per the Baltimore Sun, a gun was recovered at the scene but no arrests have been made.
Police described the scene of the vigil as 'peaceful' in a Facebook Live Video, saying that police left once most of the crowd had dispersed but came back after hearing gunshots.
'They were flagged down by citizens who were actually performing life-saving measures on an adult female victim,' said Captain Sukhjit Batth, acting commander for the major crimes division of the Prince George's County Police Department.
'Officers located another adult male victim and with the help of our citizens on scene started performing life-saving measures.
'Both adult victims got transported to area hospitals. Unfortunately, our adult male victim was pronounced [dead] at the hospital.'