By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribubemedia.net

AN ASPIRING 25-year-old athlete with dreams of becoming a star quarterback was found fatally stabbed in the bathroom of his Nassau Village rental home late Wednesday night.

Police said Dondre Rigby’s girlfriend called officers shortly before midnight for a wellness check after being unable to reach him. When officers forced their way inside, they discovered Rigby’s body with multiple stab wounds.

As yet, there is no indication as to what lies behind his gruesome murder.

Friends described him as driven and resilient, a young man who pursued his dream of professional football against the odds. His profile on the football platform Bleechr noted he was ranked the number one quarterback invited to the Quarterback Magazine camp in San Diego in 2018, which later earned him a stint with the Lübeck Cougars in the German Football League juniors.

“I have not been privileged to be born into a situation where I can play football, but I’ve always worked religiously at being the best quarterback in the world,” Rigby wrote in his biography on the site. “Being a QB standing at 5’9 I’ve faced scrutiny every step of the way, but I know within myself that I’d rather be better than someone than taller than someone.”

Neighbours said they were stunned by the killing. Michael Gomez, 59, said he never saw signs of trouble but recalled hearing “some loud noises” like furniture being thrown on the night Rigby died. “I was left pretty shook,” he said.

When The Tribune visited the home yesterday, the front door stood wide open, exposing a sparsely furnished kitchen.

Rigby’s childhood friend Garfield White said he had been in frequent contact with him since his return to The Bahamas two months ago. He said Rigby was still grieving his father’s death but had turned his focus to music.

“He was talking about his music and how he just dropped the song and we was actually like planning stuff,” he said. “I was supposed to do this music video. I’m like a photographer, videographer also and he wanted me to do his music video and everything. He was very excited especially when he dropped the song the same day, like he was texting me, like, non stop, that same day.” 

Mr White, who first met Rigby in primary school, said his friend had been a mentor who introduced him to football, encouraged him in the gym, and offered spiritual and personal support. He recalled Rigby’s frustration at being denied scholarships at home, which forced him to pursue opportunities abroad.

Though he did not attend university, Rigby enrolled at Birmingham Prep Cardinal, a post-graduate football programme that emphasised “spiritual growth, academic excellence, and athletic performance.”

Another longtime friend, Charence Brice, described him as a “big brother.” “He was the type of leader that told you not what was wanted but needing to be heard,” he said. “He was a great and positive leader that wanted not only his success but those around him. Dondre was in route to not only put his family but The Bahamas on a bigger scale as well. He had numerous opportunities to play football from we were kids. His character spoke most of all and he will be greatly missed.”

Police said no one is in custody and investigations continue.