Denton Guyer Football Death: Athlete's Body Found in Truck

Authorities said the shooting death of a Denton Guyer High School football player Saturday night near Bowie, Texas, is an "open investigation."

Law enforcement found the body of Nathan Maki, 18, Guyer's starting fullback, inside a pickup truck parked on a field in Bowie, about 56 miles northwest of Denton. Police received a tip around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and reported to the scene shortly after, the Denton Record-Chronicle reported.

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Montague County Sheriff Paul Cunningham told WFAA-TV that emergency personnel took Maki to Bowie Memorial Hospital, where the young man was pronounced dead. Cunningham told the television station that he did not know who made the 911 call. 

The sheriff said a minor was arrested at the scene for possession of alcohol, and a rifle was recovered.

The Texas Rangers have joined the investigation, along with Montague County's district attorney's office.

"We’re not going to rule anything out right now," Cunningham told the Record-Chronicle. "We’re classifying this as an open investigation."

Maki, a senior, had not played in Guyer's season opener Thursday against Cedar Hill because of an injury.

"As a coach or administrator, you don’t prepare for anything like this," John Walsh, Guyer’s head football coach, said. "But Guyer’s a strong family and we’re going to take care of the Makis along the way."

The team's running back coach Oschlor Flemming told the Record-Chronicle what Maki was like.

"Nathan (was) a great kid. It’s evidenced by the people that have showed up at the school. He always had a big smile on his face. I don’t think he had an enemy in the world," he said.

Friends and supporters took to the team's Facebook page to express their condolences to Maki’s family.

"It is tragic when a parent has to bury a child," Robert W. Stahr wrote. "I am also praying for the student body as well the (coaches) and administrators as you return to work tomorrow, knowing you have one less student because of this tragedy."

"We are praying for the Maki family, Wildcat players & coaches, our students and our community," Barbara McCurley Snowden wrote. "May God bring some peace in this tragedy. May He bring some comfort to all the suffering... may He heal our hearts."

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