Virginia Tech Freshman LB Arrested On Second-Degree Murder Charge

Virginia Tech freshman linebacker Isimemen Etute has been arrested in connection to the death of a 40-year-old man on Tuesday, according to Blacksburg Police Department. The news comes directly from NBC local affiliate WSLS-TV in Roanoke.

After a wellness check was performed at approximately 10:30 p.m. ET, the police discovered Jerry Smith had died and almost immediately ruled it a homicide. Now, the 18-year-old linebacker from Virginia Beach is being charged with second-degree murder.

We are still unsure of how exactly Smith was killed. What we do know is that Smith and Etute were acquaintances, and there appears to be enough evidence to arrest the young Hokies defender.

According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Etute is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker who was rated a three-star prospect. Before signing with Virginia Tech and enrolling back in January, he also held offers from other Power Five programs such as North Carolina State, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wake Forest.

Now that he's been charged with second-degree murder, he's been suspended from the football team and his online profiles connected to the school have been removed.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.