Taylor Bradford, the Memphis University’s defensive lineman, was shot and killed Sunday night in the school campus, determining university officials to cancel classes and put a lock-down on the campus as authorities searched for suspects.

"We found him with a bullet wound to the body and the ambulance took him to the hospital where he was pronounced (dead)," said Roger Prewitt, a Memphis Police inspector.

The 21-year-old football player was shot at about 9:45 p.m. in the parking lot next to the Carpenter Complex. After being hit, he managed to get into his vehicle, but as he was loosing blood he crashed into a tree. He was taken to the Memphis Regional Medical Center where he died.

"Our entire football team is deeply saddened by the loss of Taylor," said head coach Tommy West. "He was well respected and a popular member of our team. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Bradford, a recently transferred 5-foot-11-inch, 300-pound defensive lineman from Stamford University, didn’t get to play for the Tigers this season. Memphis officials announced the team will observe a moment of silence in his honor before its home game against Marshall on Tuesday.

The police officers investigating the case said they believe Bradford was targeted and not the victim of a random act of violence.

Although police investigators believe the killer(s) left the area right after the murder took place, the university decided to cancel classes on Monday. The university’s offices were the only facilities opened to students in need of counseling with the faculty staff, said university spokesman Curt Guenther said.

"We feel like the campus is safe, but we'd rather err on the safety than not," Gunther said.

According to the school’s Website’s estimates, the University of Memphis had 20,562 students last fall and about 2,500 employees.