Nick Van Exel’s Son Arrested for Murder

Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Nick Van Exel’s 20-year-old son, Nickey Van Exel, was accused of murdering a friend and was arrested Wednesday night.

Dallas Police spokesman Craig Miller told CBS affiliate NewsRadio 1080 KRLD in Dallas-Fort Worth Thursday that Van Exel is accused of shooting longtime friend Bradley Eyo, 23, Sunday in Garland, Texas, and thereafter dumped the body near Lake Ray Hubbard.

Police told the Associated Press that Eyo was found with a gunshot wound to his upper body. Van Exel’s shotgun used for the murder has yet to be recovered. Several of Eyo’s possessions have also gone missing, leading police to believe a theft took place, Miller told NewsRadio 1080 KRLD.

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Although the police are still early in their investigation, Miller said that Van Exel is cooperating.

Paul Johnson, Van Exel’s lawyer, told NewsRadio 1080 KRLD that his client confessed to the police that he killed Eyo when a shotgun they were playing with accidentally went off. Van Exel said he did not know the gun, which belonged to his stepfather, was loaded. "It's a real sad situation," Johnson told the AP. "Emotions are running high, and, obviously, we recognize that some very bad decisions were made on how he responded."

Van Exel is being held at Dallas’ Lew Sterrett Justice Center on $1 million bail. Van Exel has yet to appear in court or enter a plea.