Former Boise State running back Jack Fields Jr. shot, killed after stabbing deputy

Scott Gleeson | USA TODAY

Former Boise State football player Jack Fields Jr. was shot and killed Thursday by a deputy after Fields stabbed the officer while resisting arrest, according to a release by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Fields was 25.

According to the release, Fields stabbed Richmond County (Ga.) Sheriff's Office deputy Stephan Psillos several times in the lobby of a Residence Inn in Augusta, Ga., before he was shot by the deputy around 8 p.m.

"During the encounter, Deputy Psillos attempted to put handcuffs on Fields, at which time Fields resisted arrest," the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's public statement read. "Fields pulled a knife from his coat pocket and attacked Deputy Psillos multiple times. Deputy Psillos fired his service weapon, striking Fields."

Patrick Morgan, Special Agent in Charge for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, told USA TODAY Sports by phone Friday that the investigation was still ongoing. He said that Psillos, who has been with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office since July of 2017, was the only acting officer on duty but that close to 10 eyewitnesses at the hotel were interviewed as part of the investigation. Morgan said once Psillos will be interviewed about the incident once he recovers from his stab wounds.

Morgan said that minutes after Psillos' gun was fired, several other deputies arrived on the scene and tried to perform first aid on Fields, who was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was scheduled for Friday. Once the investigation is finalized, the Augusta (Ga.) Judicial Circuit District Attorney will review the case.

Fields played at Boise State from 2012 to 2015 and rushed for 336 yards as a reserve running back in his four seasons, according to school's athletics website. He was a two-time Mountain West Conference academic all-scholar. In February 2015, in an altercation in the Broncos' locker room, Fields punched teammate Rick Smith unconscious, according to a report by the Idaho Statesman.