TOPEKA, Kan. — It was 2 a.m., but Navarro Simmons’s mobile phone kept ringing and Corey Ballentine’s name kept flashing across the screen. Simmons was pretty sure what it was about, so he ignored the calls, at first.

Several hours earlier Simmons had called to congratulate Ballentine, who had just been selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the N.F.L. draft. Simmons had also called his son Dwane, knowing that Dwane was with Ballentine and would be just as excited about the big news. He assumed they were just getting back to him.

Still in bed, Simmons finally clicked on his phone and began congratulating Ballentine again, asking how he felt on what was surely the best day of his young life.

“Not good, Mr. Simmons,” Ballentine said. “You need to get here. Me and Dwane have been shot.”

In an instant, the greatest day of Corey Ballentine’s life had turned into by far the worst. A bullet had torn through his buttocks, and his best friend was mortally wounded.