FREDERICK, Md. — Marshall University sophomore defensive tackle Larry Aaron died Thursday, nearly two months after suffering a gunshot wound.
Aaron, 19, of Columbia, Md., was shot in the back at a New Year’s Eve party in Severn. He reportedly was shielding his girlfriend after gunfire erupted.
With a bullet lodged in his spinal chord, he had been paralyzed from the waist down and doctors said they were unable to operate because of the chance of increasing damage.
“That’s just a testament to how Larry is,” his father Larry Aaron, Jr., told The Herald-Dispatch in Huntington. “That’s his mindset, and his instincts 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.”
The Baltimore Sun reported Aaron hoped to begin physical therapy in March, but complications from the injury ultimately claimed Aaron’s life.
“Marshall University lost a very special young man today and it has shocked and saddened us all,” Marshall football coach Doc Holliday said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all of Larry Aaron’s family and friends, many of whom were his fellow Thundering Herd teammates. His loss will be felt in every corner of our program and his spirit will never be forgotten.”
Marshall will sell $20 T-shirts at Saturday’s men’s basketball game as a fundraiser, and fans unable to attend can order the “93Strong” shirts at HerdZone.com. Aaron’s family also has established a GoFundMe account to assist with medical costs.