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Police: NBA player Bryce Dejean-Jones killed after breaking into Dallas apartment

By Allen Cone
Bryce Dejean-Jones played his rookie season with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14 games. Twitter/Bryce Dejean-Jones
Bryce Dejean-Jones played his rookie season with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14 games. Twitter/Bryce Dejean-Jones

DALLAS, May 29 (UPI) -- Bryce Dejean-Jones, a rookie NBA guard with the New Orleans Pelicans, was breaking into an apartment he thought was his girlfriend's when he was shot dead by the anxious resident, police said.

Dejean-Jones, 23, "kicked open the front door" at 3:32 a.m. Saturday, police in Dallas said.

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Police said the man living in the unit was awakened. He grabbed his gun and "called out" to the intruder. No one answered.

Then, Dejean-Jones kicked the door to the bedroom and the man fired, according to police.

He ran from the apartment and "collapsed in the breezeway," police said. He died at a local hospital.

The Dallas County medical examiner's office had not performed an autopsy Saturday but confirmed his death.

His agent, Scott Nichols, said he died from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Nichols told CNN that he was in Dallas to visit with his girlfriend for his daughter's first birthday.

Nichols said Dejean-Jones hadn't visited the apartment before the weekend and when he went back to the apartment a second time, he went to the unit directly below hers.

He was "in the wrong place at the wrong time," the agent said.

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A person is allowed to use a weapon to defend himself in his home, according to Texas law.

''We are devastated at the loss of this young man's life who had such a promising future ahead of him," the Pelicans said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce's family during this difficult time.''

The Pelicans signed Dejean-Jones, a 6-foot-6 guard, to a three-year contract after they signed him to two 10-day contracts. But six days after signing the long-term contract, he suffered a season-ending fractured right wrist and underwent surgery. He had gone for a block and fell on his wrist against the Philadelphia 76ers on Feb. 19.

Dejean-Jones, who grew up in Los Angeles, attended the University of Southern California and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before transferring to Iowa State.

He was not drafted in the NBA but played well in the league's summer league and drew the attention of the Pelicans. He participated in the team's training camp and made roster at the start of the season.

He played with the Idaho Stampede in the NBA Development League until he joined the Pelicans in January for the first of his short-term contracts.

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He averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in starting 11 of 14 games.

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