Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor dead at 24, day after shooting at his home
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 11:19 AM PST
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| Manuel Balce Ceneta | Associated press
Washington Redskins fan Matthew Gordy pays his respects to the late Redskins safety Sean Taylor (21), whose number is painted on the grass of a makeshift memorial at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va., Tuesday. Pro Bowl safety Sean Taylor died Tuesday, after he was shot in his home by an apparent intruder, leaving the Washington Redskins in mourning for a teammate who seemed to have reordered his life since becoming a father. |
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s eyes were red. His voice cracked and was barely audible. Next to him sat coach Joe Gibbs, barely more composed.
Safety Sean Taylor’s violent death had left his team in tears and the NFL in mourning.
“This is a terrible, terrible tragedy,” Snyder said.
Taylor died early Tuesday of a gunshot wound from an apparent intruder, a tragic end for a 24-year-old man whose life was transformed by the birth of a daughter 18 months ago.
“We’re going to miss him,” Gibbs said. “I’m not talking about as a player. I’m talking about as a person.”
A day earlier, Taylor and his girlfriend were awakened by loud noises, according to family friend Richard Sharpstein, who learned the details from Taylor’s girlfriend, Jackie Garcia. He said Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection.
Someone then broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor, Sharpstein said. Neither Taylor’s daughter, Jackie, nor Taylor’s girlfriend were injured in the attack.
The bullet damaged the femoral artery in Taylor’s leg, causing significant blood loss. Taylor never regained consciousness, Sharpstein said.
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said he did not know why Taylor returned to Miami during the weekend. Taylor was not required to accompany the team to Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay because of a knee injury.
Police had no description of a possible suspect and were investigating whether the shooting was connected to a break-in at Taylor’s home eight days earlier, in which police said someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.
“They’re going to be looking at every angle,” Miami-Dade Police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said. “They’re going to be looking at every lead.”
Authorities from Miami-Dade Police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were in and out of Taylor’s home throughout the day. Police were seen taking a computer from Taylor’s home.
A stream of family and friends arrived throughout the day, including his father, Florida City police chief Pedro Taylor. Some embraced outside; most came and went without speaking to a group of several dozen reporters.
Outside Pedro Taylor’s home in suburban Miami-Dade County, the front lawn was filled with friends and family members who seemed to be in good spirits. Small children ran through the yard. Several people brought large platters of food into the house. When he arrived home, he was met with embrace after embrace by friends and family members.
“We’re all hurting,” Taylor said. “I mean that’s my child.”
Taylor spoke privately with Miami-Dade homicide detectives and expressed confidence in the police investigation, but couldn’t provide additional information.
