The CFL was struck by tragedy Sunday morning with the news that 23-year-old Calgary Stampeders' defensive back Mylan Hicks was fatally shot outside a Calgary nightclub around 2:30 a.m. According to the CBC, police responded to the Marquee Beer Market at that time after reports of shots fired, and Hicks was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition, but later died from his injuries. Police say they have three people of interest in custody. The Stampeders confirmed Hicks' death in a statement later Sunday morning, saying his life was "taken in an act of violence":

"Obviously this is an extremely difficult and upsetting time for the players and staff," Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel said. "It's a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mylan's family."



...“The loss of this 23-year-old young man at this stage of his life and his career is an unfathomable tragedy,” said Ken King, president and CEO of the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation. “Our sympathies to Mylan’s family and to the Stampeders family of players, coaches and staff.”





CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge and CFLPA executive director Brian Ramsay also expressed condolences in a joint statement. Orridge said “On behalf of our Board of Governors and the entire CFL community across Canada, I’d like to convey my deepest sympathies to Mylan’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the Stampeders organization as they mourn this tragic loss,” and Ramsay said “Mylan was a respected young man throughout his collegiate and professional careers. As a member of the Calgary Stampeders, he was just starting to establish himself amongst his teammates, coaches and fans in the city. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mylan’s family, friends, teammates and the Calgary Stampeders organization during this extremely difficult time.”

The Detroit-born Hicks played linebacker at Michigan State and did well there, recording a career-high 19 tackles and four pass breakups in nine games during his senior year in 2014, receiving the Spartans' Biggie Munn Award as their most inspirational player. He went undrafted by the NFL in 2015, but signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. The 49ers released him at the end of training camp that year, though, and his next stop was Canada. He signed with the Stampeders as a defensive back in May, played in the preseason this year and was currently on their practice squad. Tributes to him on social media poured in Sunday from teammates, coaches, other CFL players and executives and more:

Football is family & today we've lost one of our own. My thoughts are with Mylan Hicks' family, friends & @calstampeders organization. #CFL — Jeffrey Orridge (@Commish13) September 25, 2016

RIP Mylan Hicks. Good fball player, Great Dude. Such a tragedy. You will be missed brother... — Tank Reed (@Tank_Reed1911) September 25, 2016

Our thoughts and prayers are with The Mylan Hicks family, as well as his extended Spartan Family, as we learn of this tragic loss. #RIP6 — Mark Dantonio (@DantonioMark) September 25, 2016

We are deeply saddened to hear the news of former Spartan Mylan Hicks, who was tragically killed early Sunday. #RIP https://t.co/lA3KCaJrbk — Spartan Football (@MSU_Football) September 25, 2016

Had the privilege of meeting Mylan Hicks when we played with @49ers together sad to said a good man go God bless his family — Shawn Lemon (@SLemonator) September 25, 2016

Our deepest condolences go out to Mylan Hicks' family and the entire @calstampeders organization. https://t.co/keyZtiW76t — Len Rhodes (@LenRhodesPrez) September 25, 2016

The thoughts and prayers of the CFL community are with with Hicks' family.