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Phil Urban: Two NJ teens arrested in connection to fatal shooting of 20-yr-old college basketball player

The duo, who are 16 years and 17 years old, have been charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and weapons offenses

MERCER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: Two teenagers have been arrested by Mercer county officials on Friday, December 23, in relation to Phil Urban, 20 fatal shooting which occurred at Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space's Eames Preserve in Hopewell Township. Urban was shot and killed in a white Mercedes-Benz stationed at a New Jersey nature preserve last Saturday, December 17.

According to Fox News, the duo, who are 16 years and 17 years old, have been charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and weapons offenses. Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Post University basketball player was found "slumped over" in the driver’s seat of his Mercedes C class. He was later pronounced dead after being rushed to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

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The Investigation also claimed that the two teens robbed Urban. According to the police, they discerned the pair had lured the basketball player to the preserve with the intention of robbing him of a quarter pound of marijuana worth roughly $800. The police also informed that the two suspects will be kept in a youth detention center pending their respective hearings. 

"As a member of the Men’s basketball team and a Business Administration major, Philip modeled the attributes of leadership, commitment, and hard work on the court and in the classroom. We hope that his family, friends, and those affected by his passing will find strength during this extremely difficult time," Post University CEO and president John Hopkins said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Urban played in two games this season as a Freshman reserve off the bench. He was also awarded a basket scholarship after graduating from Pennington School in Mount Vernon. According to Daily Mail, The school welcomed him to the team via a tweet in April, "WELCOME…Phil Urban. Phil is a 6'6 skilled wing from Manalapan NJ who can play multiple positions. We are excited about what Phil will add to our team both as a player and person. Welcome to the nest, Phil!."

A former coach from Pennington, Coach Zach Liu claimed, "This kid has dealt with a lot of adversity in the last year and if I told you how he handled it, you’d be proud too! Super excited for Philly man— stayed humble, trusted the process and accomplished a goal! #earnedit."

A spokesperson from the school said, "Phillip spent his junior and senior high school years at Pennington and was a valued member of the school community. He graduated last year and went on to matriculate at Post University in Connecticut." "Phil was well liked by everyone in the Post community. His quiet sense of humor was infectious and he was a valuable part of our basketball program," said Headmen's coach Marc Kuntz.