The search is still on for the person who shot and killed a Univerity of New Mexico baseball player in Nob Hill over the weekend. Monday, his teammates remembered him.
Coaches and teammates of Jackson Weller met to remember his life and the impact he had on the team.
“Jackson Weller was one of the classiest kids I have ever coached, and for the first time in 42 years, I’ve lost him. I’ve lost one of my players on my watch,” UNM Baseball Coach Ray Birmingham said.
It’s been a tough few days for Coach Ray Birmingham and the entire UNM baseball team. Jackson Weller, 23, was expected to play for UNM this fall. Late Friday night near the intersection of Central and Richmond, Weller was shot and killed.
Surveillance cameras at Imbibe Bar captured at least part of the confrontation on camera, but right now police are not releasing any details. The owner of that bar says Weller was inside the bar earlier that night, but the gunman was not. He also says the bar was closed at the time of the shooting.
UNM Athletics is calling the shooting a senseless tragedy. Coach Birmingham says Weller was a fierce pitcher and competitor. Although he sat out due to an injury this year, his teammates say he was their biggest supporter.
“He was at every single game always cheering us on, always at our dugout, and he didn’t have to be there but he was there,” UNM baseball player Brayden Meritt said.
KRQE News 13 has also learned that Weller was one of the top pitchers in the state of Texas when he came out of high school, but he broke his arm. That didn’t stop him though. Weller went to Phoenix to play baseball at the IMG Academy before coming to UNM.
Right now, the Albuquerque Police Department is not releasing any information about the suspect or pictures from the surveillance video.
The Weller family will be having a private service in Fort Worth, Texas on May 13. No word yet on if there will be a public memorial service in Albuquerque.
The next UNM baseball game is Friday at 6 p.m.
