A captain of Hancock College's football team who recently signed a letter of intent to attend Tennessee State University was the victim of a homicide Friday night in Santa Maria, police and sources at the college said Monday.

Santa Maria police Monday identified the man who was fatally shot as Tau Sudlow, 20, of Santa Maria.

Police said they would not release any more information on the case while it remains an active murder investigation.

Tyrel Jordan of Santa Maria was arrested on suspicion of murder shortly after the shooting, which police said happened about 11:20 p.m. Friday in the 900 block of East Main Street.

Jordan, 20, was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail without bail.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office had not filed charges against Jordan as of Monday afternoon.

Sudlow suffered at least one gunshot wound to the torso, police said, as he stood in an alley after leaving a party at a nearby house.

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Witnesses reportedly told police that Jordan approached the victim and struck him with a handgun. The two men struggled briefly before Jordan allegedly fired the weapon.

The victim was taken to Marian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The shooter reportedly ran away, and a patrol officer soon spotted Jordan running west in the 900 block of East Chapel Street. He was captured a short time later.

Officers reportedly found clothing and a revolver suspected of being the murder weapon in some bushes along the route.

An autopsy was done Monday on Sudlow's body, said Sgt. Alex Tipolt of the county sheriff's department. However, results would probably take about a month, he said.

Sudlow, who stood 6 feet, 3 inches and 275 pounds, was an offensive lineman for Hancock in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

The sophomore was a team captain for the Bulldogs last season, said Tom Mott, interim athletic director for the college.

Sudlow was also second team all-conference in the All-Western State Conference's Mountain Division.

Sudlow attended South Shore High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. He had recently signed a letter of intent to go to Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., on scholarship. The Tigers play in Division 1 AA.

Mott described Sudlow as a respected team leader.

“I think every student athlete that comes to Hancock has the goal of putting in time there and moving on, and he accomplished that goal,” Mott said of Sudlow's decision to transfer to Tennessee State.

Hancock College is offering grief counseling through the Santa Maria campus Health Services office.

A memorial fund to help Sudlow's family with expenses has been established by Community Bank of Santa Maria and Lompoc Community Bank through the Hancock College Boosters. Donations can be made in person at any branch or by mail to: Tau Sudlow Memorial, c/o Hancock College Boosters, Community Bank of Santa Maria, P.O. box 5307, Santa Maria 93456.

Samantha Yale can be reached at 739-2159 or syale@santamaria times.com. Staff writer Brad Memberto contributed to this report.

May 6, 2008