Arrest In Shooting Death Of Mount Vernon Football Star

PHOENIX, AZ — Phoenix police announced an arrest Tuesday in the December shooting death of indoor football player Lance McDowdell, a former Mount Vernon football star. The man now charged with second-degree murder was in jail in nearby Maricopa County on unrelated charges, according to azcentral.com.

According to news reports, the man accused in the shooting death is Christopher Verland Ayers III, 28.

The Arizona Rattlers released a statement:

The Arizona Rattlers are aware that an investigation of this magnitude takes time and all evidence must be processed thoroughly to ensure justice is served and prosecution is successful. The Arizona Rattlers would like to thank the Phoenix Police Department and the assigned detectives for their due diligence during the investigation and their assistance during this time. Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, there will be no further comment and all questions should be directed to the Phoenix Police Department.

McDowdell, 25, was found by police Dec. 20 with a fatal gunshot wound in the driveway of a Phoenix apartment building.

At Mount Vernon High School, McDowdell earned first team All-Section honors from 2010-12. He was also named two-time league MVP in basketball and was all-state. Last season was McDowdell's first full season with the Rattlers and the defensive lineman was named to the second-team All-IFL in 2019.

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