Rice University basketball player killed in bar fight

Friday, April 06, 2007

(4/05/07 - HOUSTON) -- A Rice University basketball player was stabbed to death early Thursday outside a bar in College Station, police and schools officials said.

Jonathan Bailey and his twin brother, Janson, were involved in a fight inside the bar, located about 100 miles northwest of Houston. Those involved in the fight were asked to leave the bar but the altercation continued outside.

Police found the Bailey brothers at about 1:45 a.m. Thursday. They had been stabbed multiple times. The brothers had turned 22 years old on Wednesday.

Both were taken to St. Joseph Regional Health Center in nearby Bryan. Jonathan Bailey was later pronounced dead. His brother was listed in fair condition late Thursday. Janson Bailey had attended Texas A&M University in College Station, but was not enrolled at the school this semester officials said.

Police questioned two people about the stabbings Thursday and arrested Ronald Andrew Johnson Jr., 23, of College Station, on a murder charge in Jonathan Bailey's death. Police said the investigation continued and additional charges were possible.

Jonathan Bailey, a transfer from Texas State University and a graduate of West Brook High School in Beaumont, was a walk-on sophomore basketball player for Rice, located in Houston.

In his first season of eligibility with the Owls, Bailey played 10 minutes over four games, scoring four points. He had one assist. He didn't play during the 2005-06 season.

Coach Willis Wilson and team co-captain Lorenzo Williams were visibly upset about Jonathan Bailey's death as they talked to reporters Thursday.

"This is one of those life events you can never explain," Wilson said.

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