CMU quarterback John Keller in critical condition after off-campus shooting

UPDATED at 2:30 p.m. to include official CMU statement regarding the incident and Keller's student-athlete status.

Central Michigan sophomore quarterback John Keller has been identified as one of two victims in an off-campus incident which culminated in a series of shootings on Saturday night, per report from Central Michigan Life’s Christian Booher.

The incident occurred just before 1 a.m. Saturday morning at Deerfield Apartments in Mt. Pleasant, with the Isabella County Sheriffs Department initially dispatched to the scene of the crime. The department later indicated that over the course of the investigation, it was determined a fight had broken out at the scene, and that the unknown gunman had left to get a weapon from his vehicle, before shooting two persons and fleeing the scene, per CM Life.

Central Michigan University confirmed via email that Keller is a student-athlete on the football team, and President Dr. Bob Davies released a statement confirming the identities of the affected students on Sunday afternoon via Twitter.

"We now can confirm that the two victims are Central Michigan University students — junior Johnathan Keller and senior Tyler Bunting. Both were taken immediately to regional hospitals for care," Davies said via press statement. "One remains in serious condition, and the other in stable condition."

"I and many other CMU staff have personally reached out to each of the students and their families to offer support, Davies continued. "We are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers. Please join me in hoping for a speedy recovery for both individuals.

A GoFundMe has been set up to cover Keller’s emergency surgery, as his condition has gone from serious to critical, with a goal of $10,000.

“Right now John is fighting for his life at Hurley Medical Center and remains in critical condition after being life-flighted from another hospital near by,” Lauren Rhodes, the GoFundMe organizer, stated on the fundraiser’s description Saturday evening. “With John’s condition being critical, medical expenses will be extensive throughout his recovery. I ask of everyone to keep John and his family in your prayers during this difficult time.”

Keller, who did not play in 2020 due to NCAA transfer rules, was expected to fight for the starting and backup quarterback jobs during spring and fall camps in the coming months. Keller, a Canton, Ohio, native, started his collegiate career at Cincinnati, where he logged no game action as a redshirt freshman.

The identity of the assailant(s) is still unknown as of publication.

Any tips regarding the incident should be referred to the Isabella County Sherriff’s Department, and can be submitted by email isabellasheriff@isabellacounty.org, via the ICSD Facebook page, the ICSD anonymous tip section at Isabellacounty.org, or via telephone at 989-779-3346 (ICSD case detective) or 989-774-3081 (CMU police department.)

This is a developing story, and will be updated as new information comes in.