Family and teammates of the University of Utah football player and West Mesquite High School graduate Aaron Lowe gathered in Texas as he was laid to rest on Monday.
The University of Utah football team flew to Texas early Monday to attend the funeral. Utah’s team posted a photo of the flight on Twitter with the caption, “Headed to Dallas for you, A Lowe. We love you.” The post ended with a hashtag saying, “#22 forever.”
Lowe’s funeral was held at the Family Cathedral of Praise in Mesquite, a suburb of Dallas. Lowe was dressed in his football uniform as his family and teammates paid their last respects.
As reported by the Dallas Express, Lowe was shot and killed two weeks ago outside a Salt Lake City house party. A 22-year-old suspect, Buk M. Buk, was later arrested on Oct. 3 for Lowe’s murder. However, police have not released a motive for the murder.
Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham spoke about Lowe’s death, saying the team lost “a loved one” and “a brother.”
Lowe wore No. 22 on his uniform. He previously wore the No. 2 but switched to No. 22 in honor of his friend and former teammate, Ty Jordan, who was killed in a shooting in Denton. After Lowe’s death, the school will have scholarships to honor his and Jordan’s memories.
The school has also decided to retire No. 22. “What our obligation is, we gotta be not just better, we gotta be 22 percent better, 22 percent better,” said Utah Cornerbacks/Special Teams Coach Sharrieff Shah. “Be 22 percent better because that was Aaron’s number, before him, it was Ty Jordan’s number. That number is not going to be anybody else’s number,” he continued.
LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson also promised the former player saying, “We’re all going to give 22 percent better. That win last night was definitely for Aaron.”