R.I.P. Tayshana “Chicken” Murphy

Tayshana “Chicken” Murphy, an 18-year-old prep star from New York City died Sunday morning from a gunshot wound to the head according to news reports. Her family told the New York Daily News that it was a case of mistaken identity and that Murphy pleaded for her life before she was shot.

From the NY Daily News:

Murphy had been hanging out with her mother and brother outside the housing project when neighbors got rowdy, witnesses said. Murphy was chased into the building when a scuffle broke out.

Witnesses said they believe Murphy, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, was mistaken for a boy who had earlier fought with a group of men from a nearby housing project.

The group of men involved in the scuffle confronted Murphy on the fourth floor of the building and a gun went off several times.

Murphy was ranked No. 16 on the ESPN Hoopgurlz list of the nation’s best point guards for the class of 2012.

• Tayshana Murphy, teenage basketball star, gunned down in case of mistaken identity: family (New York Daily News)
• Tayshana Murphy Hoopgurlz Profile (espn.com)