Ohio State Buckeyes men's soccer defender Nathan Demian was accidentally injured in an off-campus shooting after the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals, the school announced Monday.
Demian was wounded in the shooting around 2 a.m. ET. Columbus police said two vehicles were chasing each other and firing guns at the time Demian was hit, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
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Ohio State University defender Nathan Demian stands on the field before the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal game against Wake Forest on December 7, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Demian is expected to survive. The suspect was not immediately identified.
The school said Demian was an “innocent bystander” and was not involved in the altercation.
“The football program is grateful for the university's excellent support and medical care available to Nathan and his family during this difficult time,” the school said in a statement. “Nathan's family is with him and the team is very close-knit. The family asks everyone to keep Nathan in your prayers. The department extends to Nathan, his family, and the men's soccer program. We will do our best to support you in every way possible.”
“Due to the ongoing police investigation, the department cannot discuss this incident further.”
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Canada's Demian will miss the NCAA College Cup semifinals against Marshall. The shooting occurred after the team defeated Wake Forest in the Elite Eight.
Ohio State University defender Nathan Demian is pictured during an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal game on Dec. 7, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
“We'll miss him on the field, but he's a great character,” Ohio State head coach Brian Maisonneuve told reporters Monday. “He really cheers you up in practice and in games. He's got a great voice. He's a character in the best sense of the word. And like I said, his play speaks for itself. He's a competitor and it's going to be a tough fight.'' Don't let him out. ”
Demian is a redshirt junior from Vancouver. He was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Conference in 2022 and 2023 and to the Wolstein Classic All-Tournament Team in 2022.
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He missed his entire junior year due to injury.
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