Highly regarded freshman Quinton Flowers will apparently make his first start at quarterback for the USF football team tonight at SMU. It couldn't come at a worse time.

Flowers' 24-year-old half-brother, Bradley Holt, was killed Thursday evening outside an apartment complex in Miami's Allapattah neighborhood doing what police called a "good Samaritan act."

Police say Holt was so concerned about a group of children playing in the neighborhood he approached a yellow Ford Mustang circling the neighborhood suspiciously. A few minutes after he yelled at the driver, the driver circled back around and fired a bullet that struck Holt in the head.

Holt was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

“All (Holt) asked was, ‘Why you all driving so crazy with so many kids out here?’” Holt’s sister, Shanay Flowers, told Miami's WFOR-Ch. 4. “And about 15 to 20 minutes later, the guy came and shot him. All he tried to do was protect the kids.’’

Flowers, 20, who starred at Miami Jackson High School, also lost his father to gun violence when he was a young boy. His father, Nathaniel, was shut and killed outside the family home in the tough Liberty City section of Miami. And when Quinton was in high school, he lost his mother, Nolita, to cancer.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone in our football program and the USF family are with Quinton and his family as they cope with this senseless tragedy," USF coach Willie Taggart said in a statement.

"Quinton is a special young man who has had to endure far more at his young age than anyone should. We will do everything we can to help see him through this very difficult loss."

USF also released a statement, saying: "Our immediate concern is for Quinton’s well being and for that of his family. We will first and foremost support Quinton and help him cope with this tragic occurrence. Any questions regarding Saturday’s game are premature and secondary at this time.’’

Flowers traveled with USF to Dallas and said he will play tonight's 8 p.m. game for his brother.

On Facebook, Flowers posted: “It’s crazy how when things go good for me but a blood member have to get took away. R.I.P. BIG BRA BRAD Playing for you this week.’’