A Santa Maria man suspected of killing a captain of Hancock College's football team was arraigned Friday morning in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria.

Tyrel Charles Jordan, 20, pleaded not guilty to the allegation that he murdered Tau Sudlow, 20, of Santa Maria, as well as a special allegation that he used a firearm in commission of the act and a gang enhancement.

Police said Jordan shot Sudlow in the torso as Sudlow stood in an alley in the 900 block of East Main Street in Santa Maria after leaving a house party on May 2.

Jordan is due back in court on June 26.

He remained in county jail custody Friday evening without bail.

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

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

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The shooter ran away, according to police, 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.

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, Tom Mott, interim athletic director for the college, has said.

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

He attended South Shore High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sudlow had recently signed a letter of intent to go to Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., on scholarship. The Tigers play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).

Samantha Yale can be reached at 739-2159 or syale@santamariatimes.com.

May 31, 2008