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Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski, 21, has died in an apparent suicide.
According to the Pullman Police Department, Hilinski did not show up for practice and was later found in his apartment with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Pullman Police Department said. A police spokesman said officers found Hilinski dead at his apartment north of the Washington State University campus at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, January 16.
Hilinski, the Cougars backup quarterback, was found by his teammates. Reportedly, a rifle and a suicide note was found next to his body. However, the motive for the apparent suicide is not known at this time.
Pullman PD has confirmed Tyler Hilinski's demise. pic.twitter.com/c83GNV74ZY
— Stefanie Loh (@StefanieLoh) January 17, 2018
via LA Times:
Upland Coach Tim Salter said he was told that when Hilinski failed to show for an afternoon practice, teammates went to the apartment and found him dead.
“I’m having a hard time to understand it all,” he said. “I feel so bad for the family.”
Hilinski was a redshirt sophomore at Washington State. He made his first collegiate start in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28 against Michigan State, a 42-17 defeat.
He was part of a well-known Southern California family that produced three outstanding quarterbacks. Older brother Kelly starred at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, where Tyler played his first two seasons. Youngest brother Ryan is a junior at Orange Lutheran and considered one of the top prospects in California.
Tyler’s brother Ryan took to Twitter to ask for prayers for his family:
Please keep my family in your prayers tonight.
— Ryan Hilinski (@ryan_hilinski) January 17, 2018
Police detectives and the county coroner’s office are conducting an investigation to confirm the suspected cause and manner of death.
Friends and former teammates of Hilinski took to Twitter to show support for the late football player, brother, son, and friend:
https://twitter.com/SportsRecruits/status/953482513397121025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fla-sp-high-school-sports-updates-pullman-police-investigate-death-of-1516163069-htmlstory.html
Prayers out to Tyler Hilinski and his family🙏🏽. Tell your loved ones you love them, never know what they are going though.
— Caleb Wilson (@calebwilson84) January 17, 2018
#RIP3 😪 this one hurt man. Love you Ty dawg, wish you was still here with us. Prayers to the Hilinsky family.. pic.twitter.com/NRU3St4Zo3
— Jamire Calvin (@Jcalv6) January 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/THE_TatumSlack/status/953479257866436608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fsports%2Fla-sp-high-school-sports-updates-pullman-police-investigate-death-of-1516163069-htmlstory.html
I’ll miss you.. just sitting here remembering all the times we had together.. i love you Brata… Rest In Peace big dawg @Tyler_Hlinski9
— koa (@koafarmer) January 17, 2018
Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the Hilinski family. If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a suicide prevention network of 161 crisis centers that provides a 24/7, toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress and can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
