NC Central Player Death: Wrongful Suit Filed
- The family of Devin Butts, a former North Carolina Central University (NCCU) basketball player, is suing the university, alleging wrongful death and negligence after Butts died of cardiac...
- Butts collapsed on May 1, 2023, shortly after midnight, while working out with teammates in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
- While playing basketball, Butts suffered cardiac arrest around 12:30 a.m.
The family of former NC Central basketball player Devin Butts has filed a wrongful death suit against the university after his tragic death from cardiac arrest during an unsupervised workout. The lawsuit alleges negligence, specifically citing violations of university policy by allowing late-night, after-hours sessions without proper supervision and readily available medical equipment. According to the complaint, an AED was not easily accessible when Butts collapsed, contributing to severe brain damage and, ultimately, his death at age 22. The family is seeking damages for pain, suffering, and lost earnings. News Directory 3 is following this story closely. Discover what’s next as this case unfolds and potentially changes university athlete safety protocols.
NC Central Faces Wrongful Death Suit After Basketball Player’s Death
Updated June 05, 2025
The family of Devin Butts, a former North Carolina Central University (NCCU) basketball player, is suing the university, alleging wrongful death and negligence after Butts died of cardiac arrest during an offseason workout. The lawsuit, filed in state court, claims NCCU allowed men’s basketball coach LeVelle Moton to circumvent university policy by permitting unsupervised, after-hours workouts.
Butts collapsed on May 1, 2023, shortly after midnight, while working out with teammates in McDougald-McLendon Arena. the lawsuit states that players routinely accessed the facility through an unlocked side entrance for these late-night sessions, fostered by team culture despite lacking formal supervision.This lack of oversight is central to the family’s claim of negligence in the basketball player death.
While playing basketball, Butts suffered cardiac arrest around 12:30 a.m. His teammates called 911 at 12:35 a.m. As no athletic trainers were present and no automated external defibrillator (AED) was readily accessible, emergency responders arrived approximately 13 minutes later. Although thay restarted his heart, the delay caused severe brain damage. Butts died four days later at Duke University Hospital at the age of 22.
The lawsuit contends that university administrators fostered a culture within the athletic department,particularly the men’s basketball team,that violated institutional policies and NCAA regulations.The complaint further alleges that NCCU failed to provide reasonable AED training and ensure AEDs were readily available at athletic facilities, contributing to the basketball player death.
“Devin was denied essential, life-saving medical treatment that more likely than not would have restored his heartbeat to a normal sinus rhythm and mitigated consequences of his cardiac event,” the lawsuit states.
Ventricular tachycardia, a treatable heart rhythm disturbance, was listed as Butts’ cause of death. His family argues that access to an AED could have prevented the brain damage that led to his death. The complaint, filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission, seeks damages for Butts’ pain and suffering, medical costs, lost future earnings, and punitive compensation.
Butts began his college career at Mississippi State before transferring to louisiana, then New Mexico Junior College. He played one season at NC Central, appearing in 17 games and averaging 5.4 points.
What’s next
The lawsuit is ongoing, and the family seeks to hold NCCU accountable for alleged negligence in Butts’ death, potentially leading to changes in university policies regarding athlete safety and supervision during workouts.