HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – An Eisenhower Senior High School football player has been charged with capital murder in the death of a man who was killed during a home invasion in north Harris County in late December.
Eligah Haywood, 19, was one of at least three men involved in the shooting death of Adrian Neal, 26, investigators said.
"I feel like he didn't do it and I know he is not the type of person to do that," said Taya Harris, a senior at Eisenhower Senior High School.
"Eligah was just really nice and cool. He always had a smile on his face. It's just devastating and hard to believe that," said Robert Graves.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, around 11:45 p.m. on Dec. 30, three men broke into a third floor apartment in the 5900 block of FM 1960.
Neal and his girlfriend were home at the time.
"The three men broke in, and demanded cash," said Sgt. Greg Pinkins with HCSO after the shooting. "After they didn't get any cash, they ransacked the apartment, shot the victim and took his car keys."
Neal died at the scene after being shot. He was a father of two girls.
"He tried to hold them off at the door, but they shot him. He told his girlfriend 'I've been shot' and then collapsed," said the victim's uncle. "His mother, father, sister, aunts, cousins are all here. I just cried and prayed the whole way here. It's in God's hands now."
Family members believe Neal may have been targeted because of the rims on his 2003 beige Buick LeSabre.
Haywood's attorney, Allen Tanner, told KPRC 2 on the phone that Haywood was offered scholarships to several colleges that could now be in jeopardy.
Haywood is being held at the Harris County Jail on no bond.
His next court appearance is scheduled for March.