Son of VCU basketball legend Joey Rodriguez dies

Jaylen Martinez (left) died on Monday. His father was VCU basketball player Joey Rodriguez. (Family photo)

Note: This article has been updated with comments from Henrico police.

Jaylen Martinez, a middle schooler at Liberty Middle School in Ashland, died on Monday afternoon.

Henrico police said their preliminary investigation indicated that it was "an accidental self-inflicted shooting."

Martinez was one of the area's top young basketball players, and planned to play at Benedictine High School. He played for top local AAU teams, in addition to playing for his school.

His father is VCU basketball legend Joey Rodriguez, one of the top players on the VCU team that made the Final Four in 2011, putting the school in the national spotlight.

Rodriguez is currently an assistant coach at Florida International University.

VCU Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin released a statement on Tuesday morning.

“The VCU Basketball family is heartbroken by the sudden passing of Jaylen Martinez," he wrote. "Through his father, Joey Rodriguez, Jaylen has grown up around our program, and his competitor’s spirit and love of the game endeared him to everyone here who had the opportunity to get to know him. There are no adequate words to dull his loved ones’ pain, but the entire VCU Basketball community stands ready to provide whatever love and support we can to lift the Martinez and Rodriguez families during this devastating time.”

Contact Michael Phillips at mphillips@richmonder.org.