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Teammate speaks out after ex-UNLV football player arrested for murder

Deadly fight happened outside Hollywood nightclub
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LATEST: A teammate is speaking out after an ex-UNLV football player is arrested for murder in Hollywood.

Randy Black II first met Dietrich Canterberry at UNLV in 1999.  

Black, a junior at the time, played strong safety for the Rebels. Canterberry, a freshman, would eventually become a defensive lineman. 

"Knowing that he was really like a big teddy bear," said Black. "It doesn't make sense how this would've happened."

Many locals who knew Canterberry are shocked that he's accused of such a brutal crime. They posted on Facebook that they're praying for the 34 year old.

"You had to do a lot to get him angry," said Black. "What happened, how did it escalate?"

Detectives have not released the exact circumstances of the deadly fight.

"He was in his community," said Black. "He was definitely trying to help out those who were trying to do the same thing that he did."

Black said his thoughts are with the family of the victim.

"What's going on with DC right now is awful," he said, "but someone lost their life."

Family members of the victim and suspect live in California.  

13 Action News will continue to follow this developing story.

ORIGINAL STORY

A former UNLV football player has been arrested in connection with a deadly fight outside a Hollywood nightclub early Sunday morning.

Los Angeles police said Anaheim resident Dietrich Canterberry, 34, had fled the scene in a party bus before the bus was stopped and he was arrested. Bail was set for $2 million.

Los Angeles police officers were near the nightclub when citizens told them a man was down outside. The officers then found the victim, identified as 29-year-old Devon Jelkes, had suffered blunt force trauma and was unconscious. He was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Witnesses told police after the nightclub closed, two women were fighting outside. During this time, two men chased Jelkes and punched and kicked him.

A second suspect remains at large.

Canterberry's case was expected to be presented to the district attorney for consideration Tuesday.

According to UNLVRebels.com, Canterberry had played on the Rebels from 2000 to 2003 and was voted one of two permanent team captains in 2013.

Canterberry also graduated from UNLV with his bachelor's degree in social sciences one year early.

Canterberry had gone to high school in Lynwood, California.