A former wrestler from Montclair High School died Thursday after authorities said he was shot on a street in Orange.
Katon Washington, 28, of Montclair, was found by police officers responding to a shooting about 1 a.m. in the area of Aldine and Cleveland streets in Orange, according to acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II.
Washington was taken to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead at 1:43 a.m., Stephens said.
According to his player profile from 2012, Washington was a member of the Montclair Mounties and had the most wins for a freshman in the teams history with 29. He was also the first Mountie to advance to the regional tournaments, his profile says.
He was like a son to me, Scott White, former director of guidance at Montclair High School said Thursday night in a Facebook post. I coached him since he was 7 and he was like family.
I have not been this shaken up since my own parents died years ago, White said. He was such an innocent and kind person. I cant believe hes gone.
No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call the Essex County Prosecutors Office tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.