- Jan 12, 2010
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Ex-Mav Nick Van Exel's son accused of capital murder in friend's death
12:00 AM CST on Friday, December 31, 2010
By JON NIELSEN / The Dallas Morning News
jnielsen@dallasnews.com
The son of a former Dallas Mavericks player has been charged with capital murder, accused of killing his friend and neighbor and dumping the body near a park by Lake Ray Hubbard.
Nickey Van Exel, 20, is accused of fatally shooting Bradley Bassey Eyo early Sunday morning with what Van Exel claimed he thought was an unloaded shotgun, according to police documents.
Van Exel, the son of former NBA guard Nick Van Exel, shot Eyo, 23, in the bedroom of Van Exel's Garland home, police said. He wrapped his friend's body in plastic, then dumped it about a half-mile from the home near a park on Lake Ray Hubbard's western shore, according to police.
On Wednesday, Van Exel, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in to Dallas police. He posted a $25,000 bail and was released from the Dallas County Jail late Thursday.
Paul Johnson, Van Exel's attorney, told The Associated Press that his client told police he shot Eyo while the two were engaged in horseplay.
After the shooting, Van Exel panicked and moved the body, Johnson said.
"It's a real sad situation," Johnson said. "Emotions are running high, and, obviously, we recognize that some very bad decisions were made on how he responded."
Dallas police Deputy Chief Craig Miller said the capital murder charge against Van Exel could be lowered to manslaughter.
"We reserve the right to change the charges; right now that's not the case," Miller said.
Eyo's father, Oyo Eyo, refuses to believe that his son's death wasn't intentional.
"If it was accidental, he wouldn't have gone to dump his body at the lake. He could've called 911," Oyo Eyo said. "I don't know what transpired in the house. Maybe it was premeditated, I don't know, but how can he point a shotgun at his friend?"
Bradley Eyo was visiting his father during a holiday break from Texas Southern University, where Eyo was to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
At about 1 a.m. Sunday, Eyo went across the street to visit Van Exel at his home in the 6900 block of George Brown Drive in Garland. Documents say that Van Exel aimed his parents' shotgun at his friend's chest and fired.
Van Exel wrapped Eyo's body, dragged it downstairs into the garage and loaded it in the back of a 2001 Chevy SUV, detectives wrote in an arrest affidavit.
About 8:30 that same morning, a man called police to report a body near the park on Barnes Bridge Road in Dallas. The affidavit stated that Eyo's body was missing a pair of Nike Air Jordan shoes, two cellphones and jewelry.
After dumping Eyo's body, Van Exel went back to his home and cleaned the blood from the bedroom and the SUV, detectives wrote in the affidavit. He then drove to the 9600 block of Forest Lane in northwest Dallas and threw the shotgun in a creek, police said. Dallas police are still trying to find the weapon.
Van Exel and Eyo had forged a friendship during the last 12 years, playing pickup basketball games and video games, Eyo's father said.
Van Exel was a standout point guard for South Garland High School's basketball team. He was named District 10-5A's defensive player of the year in 2007, according to a 2008 Dallas Morning News article.
Van Exel's father played 13 seasons in the NBA, including 1 ? seasons with the Mavericks. He helped lead the Mavericks to the 2003 Western Conference Finals. He retired after the 2005-06 season.
Eyo played basketball at Garland Lakeview Centennial High School. He had planned to pursue a master's degree, his father said.
Public records show that Eyo had misdemeanor convictions of marijuana possession and evading arrest.
In 2007, he was convicted of disorderly conduct in Dallas County.
No previous convictions were found for Van Exel.
Shortly after discovering that his son was killed Monday, Oyo Eyo saw Van Exel and his mother outside their house. Van Exel told Eyo that he would find his son's killer.
"He kissed his mother on the cheek and said 'Don't worry Mr. Eyo, we're going to find who killed Bradley,' " Eyo said.
"That's coldblooded."
12:00 AM CST on Friday, December 31, 2010
By JON NIELSEN / The Dallas Morning News
jnielsen@dallasnews.com
The son of a former Dallas Mavericks player has been charged with capital murder, accused of killing his friend and neighbor and dumping the body near a park by Lake Ray Hubbard.
Nickey Van Exel, 20, is accused of fatally shooting Bradley Bassey Eyo early Sunday morning with what Van Exel claimed he thought was an unloaded shotgun, according to police documents.
Van Exel, the son of former NBA guard Nick Van Exel, shot Eyo, 23, in the bedroom of Van Exel's Garland home, police said. He wrapped his friend's body in plastic, then dumped it about a half-mile from the home near a park on Lake Ray Hubbard's western shore, according to police.
On Wednesday, Van Exel, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in to Dallas police. He posted a $25,000 bail and was released from the Dallas County Jail late Thursday.
Paul Johnson, Van Exel's attorney, told The Associated Press that his client told police he shot Eyo while the two were engaged in horseplay.
After the shooting, Van Exel panicked and moved the body, Johnson said.
"It's a real sad situation," Johnson said. "Emotions are running high, and, obviously, we recognize that some very bad decisions were made on how he responded."
Dallas police Deputy Chief Craig Miller said the capital murder charge against Van Exel could be lowered to manslaughter.
"We reserve the right to change the charges; right now that's not the case," Miller said.
Eyo's father, Oyo Eyo, refuses to believe that his son's death wasn't intentional.
"If it was accidental, he wouldn't have gone to dump his body at the lake. He could've called 911," Oyo Eyo said. "I don't know what transpired in the house. Maybe it was premeditated, I don't know, but how can he point a shotgun at his friend?"
Bradley Eyo was visiting his father during a holiday break from Texas Southern University, where Eyo was to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
At about 1 a.m. Sunday, Eyo went across the street to visit Van Exel at his home in the 6900 block of George Brown Drive in Garland. Documents say that Van Exel aimed his parents' shotgun at his friend's chest and fired.
Van Exel wrapped Eyo's body, dragged it downstairs into the garage and loaded it in the back of a 2001 Chevy SUV, detectives wrote in an arrest affidavit.
About 8:30 that same morning, a man called police to report a body near the park on Barnes Bridge Road in Dallas. The affidavit stated that Eyo's body was missing a pair of Nike Air Jordan shoes, two cellphones and jewelry.
After dumping Eyo's body, Van Exel went back to his home and cleaned the blood from the bedroom and the SUV, detectives wrote in the affidavit. He then drove to the 9600 block of Forest Lane in northwest Dallas and threw the shotgun in a creek, police said. Dallas police are still trying to find the weapon.
Van Exel and Eyo had forged a friendship during the last 12 years, playing pickup basketball games and video games, Eyo's father said.
Van Exel was a standout point guard for South Garland High School's basketball team. He was named District 10-5A's defensive player of the year in 2007, according to a 2008 Dallas Morning News article.
Van Exel's father played 13 seasons in the NBA, including 1 ? seasons with the Mavericks. He helped lead the Mavericks to the 2003 Western Conference Finals. He retired after the 2005-06 season.
Eyo played basketball at Garland Lakeview Centennial High School. He had planned to pursue a master's degree, his father said.
Public records show that Eyo had misdemeanor convictions of marijuana possession and evading arrest.
In 2007, he was convicted of disorderly conduct in Dallas County.
No previous convictions were found for Van Exel.
Shortly after discovering that his son was killed Monday, Oyo Eyo saw Van Exel and his mother outside their house. Van Exel told Eyo that he would find his son's killer.
"He kissed his mother on the cheek and said 'Don't worry Mr. Eyo, we're going to find who killed Bradley,' " Eyo said.
"That's coldblooded."
