© 2026 ABC News

Giants' head coach Pat Shurmur called Ballentine shortly after he was drafted to congratulate him and welcome him to the team.

\"Are you healthy [and] ready to play?\" Shurmur asked Ballentine in a video of the phone call.

Ballentine responded, \"Yes, sir, I'm ready to get started. I've been waiting on this opportunity for a lifetime.\"

Topeka police said that at 12:45 a.m. local time Sunday, gunshots erupted outside a house party Ballentine and Simmons attended several blocks from the Washburn campus.

Police officers responding to the scene found Simmons mortally wounded in the street, Gretchen Koenen, a spokeswoman for the Topeka Police Department, told ABC News on Monday.

Ballentine, who suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, was driven by private car to an area hospital. Neither Vaughn nor the police would say where Ballentine was hit on his body during the shooting.

Koenen said Monday that no arrests have been made. Police are asking the public to come forward to help identify the gunman.

\"There were several dozen people at this social gathering where this occurred,\" Koenen said.

Simmons' father, Navarro Simmons, told reporters on Sunday that his son and Ballentine were getting ready to leave the house party when a vehicle pulled up and gunfire broke out.

\"This was a senseless murder,\" Navarro Simmons said. \"This shattered a lot of people.\"

In a statement released Sunday, the Giants said, \"We are aware of the tragic situation and continue to gather information. We have spoken to Corey, and he is recovering in the hospital. Our thoughts are with Dwane Simmons’ family, friends and teammates and the rest of the Washburn community.\"

Ballentine's father said Monday morning that his son has been released from the hospital.

\"Any time we lose a student, it's a sad occasion, but this is particularly poignant to lose a student through such a senseless act,\" Jerry Farley, president of Washburn University, said in a statement. \"Both Dwane and Corey have been great examples and representatives of the football team and of Washburn University in general.\"

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/US/gunman-large-kansas-shooting-hurt-ny-giants-draft/story?id=62701037","legacySlug":"/news/story/gunman-large-kansas-shooting-hurt-ny-giants-draft-62701037","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"18:12","publishDate":"04-29-2019","updatedTime":"19:10","updatedDate":"04-29-2019","socialImage":{"alt":"Washburn defensive back Corey Ballentine carries the ball during an NCAA college football game in Topeka, Kan., Sept. 22, 2018. Police in Kansas are investigating a shooting that killed one current Washburn University football player and injured Ballentine just hours after he was drafted by the New York Giants.","credit":"Topeka Capital-Journal via AP, FILE","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/ballentine-football-ap-ps-190429_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"4/29/2019 18:12:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":62701037,"headline":"Gunman on the loose in shooting of NFL draft pick ","mediaAssetTitle":"GIANTS DRAFT PICK SHOT","description":"Corey Ballentine was shot and wounded just hours after the Giants drafted him.","duration":"1:16","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/04/190428_wn_gonzalez_646_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132306053","132266872","132055565"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 23, 2026","headline":"Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","section":"News","slug":"/video/132306053","id":"132306053","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 22, 2026","headline":"Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","section":"News","slug":"/video/132266872","id":"132266872","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"Gunman on the loose in shooting of NFL draft pick ","description":"Corey Ballentine was shot and wounded just hours after the Giants drafted him.","duration":"1:16","uploadDate":"04-29-2019","publication":"04-29-2019","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/04/190428_wn_gonzalez_646_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2019/04/190428_wn_gonzalez_646_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/gunman-large-kansas-shooting-hurt-ny-giants-draft-62701037"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132281378","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132283010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132273278","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132231169","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132206748","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132200241","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"Gunman on the loose in shooting of NFL draft pick ","pubTime":"14:12","pubDate":"04-29-2019","modTime":"15:10","modDate":"04-29-2019","taxonomyTags":"none","id":62701037,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"Gunman on the loose in shooting of NFL draft pick ","mediaAssetTitle":"GIANTS DRAFT PICK SHOT","videoId":62701037,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/gunman-large-kansas-shooting-hurt-ny-giants-draft-62701037"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/62701037","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/62701037","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};