QB used teammate’s rifle

Washington State quarterback Tyler

Hilinski apparently took a former teammate’s rifle without his permission and used it to fatally shoot himself last week, according to police in Pullman, Wash. In an update on the case, police said in a statement Tuesday that their investigation into Hilinski’s suicide has not revealed any particular motive for his death. They said when Hilinksi, 21, didn’t show up for a football team weightlifting session about 2 p.m. on Jan. 16, coaches tried to reach him by phone but were unsuccessful. Pullman police then said they received a request to check on Hilinski’s welfare at 4 p.m. that same day. The weapon used was a .223-caliber rifle belonging to a former teammate, who was not identified by the police. Police said Hilinski appar- ently took the rifle without the teammate’s knowledge on or before Jan. 12.

— Brent Schrotenboer