Marshall football player dies at 19 from gunshot wound

Rest In Peace, Larry Aaron III.

Marshall defensive tackle Lawrence “Larry” Aaron III passed away on Thursday due to complications from a gunshot wound he suffered on Jan. 1 at a New Year’s Eve party. Aaron, who was just 19 years old, was shot along with another 17-year-old male in Severn, Md., according to the Herald Dispatch.

The gunshot wound left Aaron paralyzed. Aaron was a true hero during the shooting — as more details emerged, it was revealed that he shielded his girlfriend with his body when the gunfire rang out:

There was an altercation close by and as gun shots rang out, Aaron did the only thing he knew to do: protect the people he cared for. Aaron and his girlfriend were standing against a wall and as the shots rang out, he blanketed her with his 6-foot-5, 272-pound frame.

One of those shots pierced Aaron’s spine, leaving him without feeling in his legs. The bullet is lodged in such a way that doctors are afraid to remove it because of the potential for further injury.

From an emotional standpoint, it has been a roller coaster for his parents - Larry Aaron Jr., and Melissa - and it is something they are trying to come to grips with on a daily basis.

On one hand, his parents are so very proud of him for his heroism.

”That’s just a testament to how Larry is,” said Larry Aaron Jr. “That’s his mindset and his instincts just took over. The first thing he thought of was to protect his girlfriend. That’s just how he is and the type of person he is. We raised our kids to be helpful, be mindful, be respectful, and that’s just Larry being Larry.”

Aaron underwent rehab at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute in early January.

“We lost an incredible young man today,” Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said in a statement. “The entire Herd family is praying for Larry Aaron’s family.”

He had 3 tackles, in eight games for the Herd during his redshirt freshman season last year. There is a GoFundMe account under Aaron’s name that can be found here.