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Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and some of his teammates were photographed leaving an Athens strip club minutes before a fatal car crash that killed him and a recruiting analyst.
Athens-Clarke County police footage showed Willock and teammate Warren McLendon leaving Toppers International Showbar around 2:30 a.m., according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Also pictured with them were, “two women who closely resemble the UGA employees involved in the fatal accident,” the newspaper reported.
This photo was taken just hours after the Bulldogs wrapped up a victory parade for winning the College Football Playoff National Championship over TCU, and about 15 minutes before police responded to an accident involving a Ford Expedition 2021 hosted by Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, who was also murdered.
This photo provided by police shows Georgia staff and football players leaving a strip club.
Images have emerged from the crash site, after the SUV crashed into a power pole near the homes.
The University of Georgia was asked if LeCroy and his teammate Tory Bowles, who was injured in the crash with McClendon, violated the rules by joining the players at the strip club.
In a statement, UGA said: “Our primary focus remains on providing comfort and support to the families and friends of Devin, Chandler and the other two injured, as well as all those affected by this tragedy.”
“Out of respect for the individuals and their families, we will not be commenting further at this time on the accident or the ongoing investigation.”
Willock was not wearing his seat belt during the crash, was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said LeCroy was trapped behind the wheel and needed to be released before she was rushed to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
Bowles was also not wearing a seatbelt and suffered serious injuries in the crash. McClendon also suffered injuries but was released from the hospital.
UGA OL Devin Willock was not wearing his seat belt when a car driven by Chandler LeCroy lost control and struck multiple objects, police say. Willock was pronounced dead at the scene.
LeCroy was driving the vehicle, it lost control and struck utility poles and cars, police say.
Willock and UGA defeated TCU 65-7 for the school’s second straight football title earlier this month.
Audio of a 911 call recently obtained by TMZ showed panicked residents calling for help for those involved in the crash.
“There was a horrible accident,” a man, the first caller on the audio, tells the switch operator.
There are arc wires. There are people on the ground in the accident vehicle. We think someone might be dead.
“I think one person managed to get out of the vehicle, but there is someone on the ground.”
A resident then calls 911 to alert authorities to the accident, claiming that she was unable to leave her apartment because debris blocked her.
When colliding with a power pole, the transformers exploded and the sparks caused explosions, others would continue to claim.
“All the electricity is still going off here,” another man said, and the operator explained that all units were heading to the site.
There have been three different explosions… My God, there’s another one. There’s a big live wire here. I mean big, loud explosions.
As a redshirt sophomore, Willock played in all 15 games for the Dawgs, including two starts.
An attorney representing the Willock family released a statement on their behalf, expressing their grief.
“As words cannot be found to describe the grief we are experiencing with our loss, the support of all those who have spoken kind words and shared loving memories of Devin has helped us through this time,” the statement read.
“What we would like everyone to know is that Devin was more than just a football player. He was a trusted friend, a supportive and loving brother, a dedicated student, and a wonderful son.
“Devin’s infectious personality and loving smile is something no one who met or saw him will ever forget. He was a young man who was not only moved by soccer. He was driven by his love for others and his desire to realize his future.’
A toxicology report on LeCroy is currently being processed, the researchers say. He is a recent graduate of UGA and has been in his current position with the team since May 2021.
LeCroy was a Georgia native and had been in her role with the Bulldogs since May 2021.