POWDER SPRINGS - A memorial and funeral arrangements have been made for Rajaan Bennett, the 18-year-old McEachern High School football star who was shot to death in his Powder Springs home early Thursday morning.

Jimmy Dorsey, athletic director at McEachern, said there will be a memorial service for Bennett at 7 p.m. Wednesday at McEachern.

Visitation will be conducted Feb. 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Powder Springs and a funeral is scheduled for the following day at 11 a.m. in the same location.

McEachren has set up a fund for the football player to help his family pay for funeral costs.

Dorsey said the family has received a huge outpouring of support for the fund, not only local residents, but also from across the nation. The athletic director said he expects the family will receive more than enough money to cover the funeral costs, in which case the school plans to set up a fund for Bennett's special needs brother, Desybon.

"I think that would mean more to Rajaan than anything," Dorsey said. "I think if he could stick his head down from heaven, I think that's what he would tell us, that we need to make sure Des is taken care of."

On Thursday night, students at McEachern conducted a vigil for their slain classmate. Dorsey said a small memorial of flowers and stuffed animals have been erected at the family home on Woodcrest Drive.

Bennett was shot to death early Thursday morning by a man who had once been his mother's boyfriend, Powder Springs Police said.

The gunman, believed to be Clifton O'Neal Steger, 39, of Millegeville, then shot himself in the head, police said. Rajaan's uncle, Taiwan Hunter, 32, was also shot. Hunter's injuries were potentially life-threatening, and he was in critical condition Friday afternoon after undergoing surgery on Thursday at Atlanta Medical Center, Powder Springs Police Maj. Charles Spann said.

On Friday morning, Spann said police had been able to interview Hunter in the hospital following the surgery and his story was consistent with previous accounts they had heard.

As of Friday afternoon, police were not releasing any further details on the case or what may have led up to the shooting. In response to rumors of Steger's motive, Spann said there was no need for speculation since there will be no criminal trial.

Spann said a female called police about 2:30 a.m. Thursday, whispering a report of an armed person.

When officers arrived at the home, they knocked on the front door and heard five gunshots from inside. That's when Bennett's mother, Narjaketha, and uncle ran from the house, followed by his brother and sister, police said.

Inside the home, police found Rajaan dead of at least one gunshot wound.

Rajaan, a senior at McEachern, had recently signed to play football at Vanderbilt University.

Steger was with the family just weeks ago, standing behind the football star as he signed his letter of intent.

In December, Rajaan was named the AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year for the state of Georgia, by the Associated Press. A leader on and off the field, Rajaan's death shocked and saddened everyone at McEachern, Dorsey said.

To donate to the fund for Rajaan, send payments to McEachern High School, care of the McEachern Endowment fund at 2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs, Ga., 30127. Checks should be made payable to the McEachern Endowment Fund, with "Rajaan Bennett Memorial" written in the bottom left corner.