On Jan. 28, 2020, Coker men’s lacrosse freshman Garrett Bakhsh died after a nightclub shooting the previous morning in Hartsville, South Carolina. He was among four injured and three killed and was just 18 years old.

The criminal justice major from Hampstead, Md., attended Hereford High School and developed a passion for lacrosse at a young age. After his death, his parents — Natalie and Brad Bakhsh — wanted to honor their son. They were contacted by former Coker coach David Olliver about an opportunity.

One of Garrett Bakhsh’s friends was with him the night of the shooting and had an idea to remember his friend. He sought to build a lacrosse fieldhouse at Coker with Bakhsh’s name on it. He would donate $50,000 to get the process started.

The Bakhsh family is now doing their part to make that a reality. Working in tandem with the Central Carolina Community Foundation (CCCF), they have started the Garrett Tazwell Bakhsh Memorial Fund.

“He was so, so proud to receive a scholarship to play lacrosse at Coker University,” Natalie Bakhsh told CCCF. “His father spent countless hours playing and teaching him lacrosse in our backyard. I am hoping to see the fieldhouse soon. We want to make Garrett proud! He deserves it. It will happen.”

Donations raised in this fund will go to Coker University in support of the Garrett Tazwell Bakhsh Fieldhouse. Anyone interested in donating can follow the link here.