Senior Abubacarr “Buba” Darboe died the night of Dec. 20 after a shooting in Madison, Wisconsin around 10:30 p.m. CST, according to an article in the Wisconsin State Journal. The shooting may have been the result of a mistaken identity, and police have identified two persons of interest but have yet to file charges, according to Fox47.
Originally from The Gambia, Darboe majored in Economics and minored in business. He was a Crescere Aude Scholar and a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, First VU, the Black Student Association, the Vanderbilt Club Soccer Team and the Undergraduate Real Estate Club.
Seniors Chirac Troy and Najmah Muhammed, presidents of Vanderbilt’s Black Student Association, reflected on Darboe’s impact in BSA. He previously served on BSA’s executive board as a Campaigns & Engagement Chair and an Outreach Chair.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Buba. The news is genuinely heartbreaking and shocking to us all,” Troy and Muhammed said in a joint statement to The Hustler. “He was such a genuine and kind soul that that the entire Vanderbilt community will miss and cherish forever. Many were deeply moved by Buba throughout his time on campus; His warmth and sincerity will hold true in his legacy.”
Troy and Muhammed also clarified a mistake in an email sent to the Vanderbilt community by Dean G.L. Black Dec. 22. The email incorrectly stated that Darboe was heavily involved in Vanderbilt’s African Student Union instead of BSA.
“We want to make sure that [Darboe’s involvement in BSA] is understood as Vanderbilt’s email to the student body inaccurately communicated that,” Troy and Muhammed said. “It is our top priority to make sure that his memory is being remembered respectfully and accurately.”
Vanderbilt Men’s Club Soccer Team said in a joint statement that Darboe was a great teammate and friend who greatly helped the team. They expressed their great admiration for Darboe and that they will miss him very much.
“Buba was a teammate, a friend and brother to all of us on the Vanderbilt Men’s Soccer Team. As one of our starting center backs, he had a major impact on our team and contributed to much of our success. In addition to being an exceptional player, he was a great person. One of our teammates noted how ‘not only was Buba a fantastic teammate, but he was a real friend off the pitch who had some of the most interesting stories.’ We will deeply miss Buba,” the statement reads.
Junior Adam Ayad was good friends with Darboe and played with him on the Vanderbilt Men’s Club Soccer Team. He described Darboe as a great teammate, person and someone who embodied Vanderbilt’s core values and made a lasting impact on the community.
“Buba was an incredible person and teammate. His character and leadership always shone through, and he brought a smile to everyone’s face the second he stepped on the field. He will be remembered not just as a great teammate, but as an exceptional man who truly embodied all that makes Vanderbilt such a special place. He will be dearly missed, but his impact on our team and the Vanderbilt community could never be forgotten,” Ayad said.
Kappa Sigma fraternity said in a statement to The Hustler that Darboe was always thinking about others, even in moments that seemed small.
“In his senior fall, he took the time to help his fraternity brothers get organized and set up for their Vegas trip, making sure everyone planning to go on the trip felt included and taken care of,” the statement reads. “It was a simple act, but it reflected who he was at his core: generous with his time, attentive to the people around him and deeply committed to the brotherhood he loved.”
A GoFundMe was created in honor of Darboe. Its description states that all proceeds will go to a mosque and orphanage in the Gambian village Darboe was from.
