Former CSUN Football Standout Victim of Shooting

Tracy Anderson, the most valuable defensive player on the Cal State Northridge football team last season, was shot and killed Sunday on a residential street in Pacoima.

The shooting was reported in Monday’s Times.

Anderson, a 6-foot, 2-inch, 240-pound linebacker, was selected the most valuable defensive player at Northridge by a vote of teammates. He had 51 tackles as a senior after playing part time the previous season.

Leroy Wheeler, 19, of Sylmar, is being held without bail on suspicion of murder after surrendering at the Foothill Division Police Station shortly before 1 a.m. Monday.

Anderson, 24, was shot several times in what detectives think was a dispute over a car. Wheeler had been making payments to Anderson for the car, police said.

“It’s a terrible waste of human life,” Northridge Coach Bob Burt said. “When anybody dies in that fashion, it’s a damn shame.”

Police hope to question at least four other men, aged 18 to 24, who witnesses said fled the area after the shooting. Anderson was alone, Detective Al Ferrand of the Foothill Division said Tuesday.

Anderson was an All-Western State Conference selection at Glendale College before transferring to Northridge.