The LA County native, who reportedly died after suffering a football injury, is alive and well

Tributes erupted Wednesday morning shortly after the Alabama A&M athletic department announced the death of a Southern California native who was seriously injured in a football game last month.

The director of athletics at a historically Black college praised the student-athlete as “a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion leave an indelible mark on everyone who knows him.”

That announcement led to an outpouring of grief.

Rival Grambling State, where the young man hails from, sent condolences and prayers for X.

Even a former high school coach in Southern California spoke of his “sorrow and disbelief” at the 20-year-old’s passing.

Back in Alabama, however, Medrick Burnett Jr., a Lakewood resident and former star at Mayfair High School, survived.

Why he was mistakenly reported dead and why the news was picked up and picked up by outlets like ESPN and the Associated Press remains a mystery.

Burnett is listed as stable but on life support, Alabama A&M confirmed Wednesday. The university retracted its earlier press release, apologized and issued a new statement.

“We express our immediate regret for spreading false information; however, we are very happy to know that Medrick is in a stable condition,” the statement said.

Alabama A&M officials said they were notified by a close family member Tuesday evening of Burnett’s passing. The school notified the public of his death at the request of that family member, according to Alabama A&M.

The university did not confirm who they spoke to.

They acknowledged, however, that staff at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, where Burnett was admitted, informed them Wednesday that he was OK.

Burnett, a redshirt freshman linebacker, was injured on Oct. 26 in the rivalry game against Alabama State, which Alabama A&M lost 27-19.

His sister Dominece James said on the GoFundMe page that Burnett “suffered serious injuries after a head-on collision.”

He said he had frequent brain bleeds and brain swelling that eventually led to a craniotomy, which is a procedure that removes part of the skull to relieve pressure on the brain.

The family hoped to raise $100,000 for medical expenses, housing for visiting family members and other expenses.

“Please pray, [Burnett] he’s having a hard time but we’re holding on until the end,” James wrote in an update on Wednesday. “God give us strength to keep the faith.”

An email to James was not immediately returned.

His Mayfair High School football coach, Derek Bedell, said he spoke with Burnett’s father “at length” on Tuesday night. Both men believed Burnett was dead at the time.

“Everyone was hopeful until last night, and the news of his death was a shock,” said Bedell. “I think his father comforted me more than I comforted him.”

Bedell said he fielded calls throughout the day Wednesday from teammates and coaches who knew and played with Burnett.

Transfer of St. John Bosco, who played two years at linebacker and running back at Mayfair, graduated in 2023.

“Medrick is an amazing spirit, and I know it’s like a little bit, but he had a zest for life,” Bedell said. “He’s an amazing person in the locker room and he’s a leader.”

His senior year, Burnett led the Monsoons with 525 yards and seven rushing touchdowns in the backfield, while racking up 104 tackles, including five tackles for loss.

He went on to Grambling State in Louisiana before transferring this year to Alabama A&M.

“I’m not sure what happened to the information about his death,” Bedell said. “I hope he continues to recover.”