Shot Jaguars lineman Collier is paralyzed (1 Viewer)

[beavers]

Link

Docs: Shot Jaguars lineman Collier is paralyzed

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier, who was shot earlier this month, is paralyzed below the waist and has had his left leg amputated, his doctors said Monday.

They said Collier, who had 14 bullet wounds, is now in stable condition after being previously listed in critical condition.

Collier and former teammate Kenneth Pettway were waiting for two women outside an apartment complex early Sept. 2 when a gunman fired into the vehicle, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Pettway was not injured.

The motive behind the attack on Collier is unknown, but investigators said earlier he appeared to be targeted.

Collier was the third NFL player shot in the past 18 months. Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor was fatally shot during what police said was a botched burglary attempt at his Miami-area home in November. Broncos cornerback Williams was killed when his rented limousine was sprayed with bullets minutes after leaving a New Year's party at a club in 2007.

Press Association

 

[Parmcat]

sad story

 

[Silver & Black]

Link

Docs: Shot Jaguars lineman Collier is paralyzed

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier, who was shot earlier this month, is paralyzed below the waist and has had his left leg amputated, his doctors said Monday.

They said Collier, who had 14 bullet wounds, is now in stable condition after being previously listed in critical condition.

Collier and former teammate Kenneth Pettway were waiting for two women outside an apartment complex early Sept. 2 when a gunman fired into the vehicle, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Pettway was not injured.

The motive behind the attack on Collier is unknown, but investigators said earlier he appeared to be targeted.

Collier was the third NFL player shot in the past 18 months. Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor was fatally shot during what police said was a botched burglary attempt at his Miami-area home in November. Broncos cornerback Williams was killed when his rented limousine was sprayed with bullets minutes after leaving a New Year's party at a club in 2007.

Press Association

He got shot 14 times and survived? Holy cow!Sad story.

 

[Gottabesweet]

 

[Weiner Dog]

Horrible. Just horrible news.

 

[T Bell]

Unless this guy was some sort of gangster, how the hell could he have been "targeted" and they still don't know who did it? How many people would have wanted him killed?

 

[Anthony Borbely]

 

[NoFBinLA]

Thoughts and prayers to him and his family. Terrible, terrible news. Thank goodness he has survived - I hope the team sticks with him and finds ways to help him out.

 

[phillyphan07]

Unless this guy was some sort of gangster, how the hell could he have been "targeted" and they still don't know who did it? How many people would have wanted him killed?

there are plenty of reasons... he could have been targeted by a relative stranger. It could have been someone that was simply jealous of his car (happened to Jerome McDougle), or the women he was meeting... it could have been an altercation at a bar earlier in the night that Collier didn't think much of, but that really pissed off the shooter (which is basically what happened with Williams, the Broncos CB)...I live in Philadelphia and complete strangers shoot at each other for far less than the reasons above (and sometimes they do it with custom made .50 caliber Belgian handguns)but its really just a sad, sad story

 

[Fiddles]

paralyzed and lost a leg

jesus

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

I hope whoever did this gets ####ed up real bad.

 

[mr. furley]

i'm betting the women set him and Pettway up

why the guy shot him 14 times, who knows.. but it wasn't by mistake that he was sitting in a car behind an apartment building at 2:45 AM waiting for a woman.

 

[skazooz]

I highly doubt he was set up. In fact local news reported it as Collier recognizing a guy at the nightclub (and if it's the night club I'm thinking of, no it isn't "gangster" it's actually a fairly yuppie cocktail type bar with a dance floor) who he'd previously argued with and leaving. The apartments the shooting happened at? Right on the river, a really nice neighborhood surrounded by half million dollar plus restored homes. I live three blocks from there, and I was riding my bike down that street at 2:00 AM that night.

 

[switz]

Unless this guy was some sort of gangster, how the hell could he have been "targeted" and they still don't know who did it? How many people would have wanted him killed?

there are plenty of reasons... he could have been targeted by a relative stranger. It could have been someone that was simply jealous of his car (happened to Jerome McDougle), or the women he was meeting... it could have been an altercation at a bar earlier in the night that Collier didn't think much of, but that really pissed off the shooter (which is basically what happened with Williams, the Broncos CB)...I live in Philadelphia and complete strangers shoot at each other for far less than the reasons above (and sometimes they do it with custom made .50 caliber Belgian handguns)but its really just a sad, sad story

Heck, in Charlotte last week, someone pulled a gun on someone at the gas pump because they thought the person was taking too much gas.

 

[flapgreen]

Unless this guy was some sort of gangster, how the hell could he have been "targeted" and they still don't know who did it? How many people would have wanted him killed?

there are plenty of reasons... he could have been targeted by a relative stranger. It could have been someone that was simply jealous of his car (happened to Jerome McDougle), or the women he was meeting... it could have been an altercation at a bar earlier in the night that Collier didn't think much of, but that really pissed off the shooter (which is basically what happened with Williams, the Broncos CB)...I live in Philadelphia and complete strangers shoot at each other for far less than the reasons above (and sometimes they do it with custom made .50 caliber Belgian handguns)but its really just a sad, sad story

Very sad story. He was hanging out on Riverside though, which is a very bad part of Jacksonville. No way should he have expected this but it was a poor choice, nonetheless. Prayers to him and his family

 

[thayman]

Very sad story, after players retire they are covered for what 5 years of health insurance? Does anyone know if this would apply to Collier? Would he get longer term coverage? Really hope that he isn't stuck with millions of dollars worth of medical expenses.

 

[mr. furley]

I highly doubt he was set up. In fact local news reported it as Collier recognizing a guy at the nightclub (and if it's the night club I'm thinking of, no it isn't "gangster" it's actually a fairly yuppie cocktail type bar with a dance floor) who he'd previously argued with and leaving. The apartments the shooting happened at? Right on the river, a really nice neighborhood surrounded by half million dollar plus restored homes. I live three blocks from there, and I was riding my bike down that street at 2:00 AM that night.

i know a guy who got set up by a girl he was dating. shot in the head and survived.decent enough neighborhood. no clue what was coming. it happens.

 

[grumpy]

Terrible stuff.

The apartments the shooting happened at? Right on the river, a really nice neighborhood surrounded by half million dollar plus restored homes.

Very sad story. He was hanging out on Riverside though, which is a very bad part of Jacksonville. No way should he have expected this but it was a poor choice, nonetheless. Prayers to him and his family

I am curious about the radically different takes on this neighborhood...?

 

[skazooz]

Terrible stuff.

The apartments the shooting happened at? Right on the river, a really nice neighborhood surrounded by half million dollar plus restored homes.

Very sad story. He was hanging out on Riverside though, which is a very bad part of Jacksonville. No way should he have expected this but it was a poor choice, nonetheless. Prayers to him and his family

I am curious about the radically different takes on this neighborhood...?

10 to 15 years ago Riverside was really sketchy. That was before the city dumped a ton of money into the 5 Points and King & Park revitalization projects. The Riverside North area (those neighborhoods north of I-10) as well as the adjoining neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Murray Hill are still pretty sketchy. Unfortunately Riverside still carries a stigma of being unsafe because it is very racially mixed, and is majority rental.I'm about 80% sure thatthis is the apartment where it occurred. It's either this one or the next one north. Two blocks away you have some condos, a block further is the Five Points shopping district. This area is about half boutique stores, and if you follow Park St for a couple of miles you'll encounter about 5 or 6 art galleries. These aren't sketchy neighborhoods along the river. This is an area that is well and gentrified at this point.

 

[IM666]

Jacksonville, FL (Sports Network) - Police reportedly made an arrest Saturday night in the case of Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier, who was shot in September and had to have his left leg amputated.According to a story in the Florida Times-Union, Tyrone Romaro Hartsfield, 32, was arrested on a charge of attempted murder and was held without bail in the Duval County jail.The report stated cell phone information and witness interviews led to the arrest of Hartsfield, who police believe was seeking revenge. It continued the police thought Hartsfield saw Collier at a nightclub on September 1, followed the player to an apartment complex in Jacksonville, walked up to the Cadillac Escalade in which Collier and a teammate were in and shot him early in the morning on September 2.The teammate, Kenneth Pettway, was not injured. The men had been out at clubs and were following two women they had met back to an apartment complex to continue their evening together.Collier, who has since been released from the hospital, was shot 14 times and is now paralyzed from the waist down. He will continue his rehabilitation from an undisclosed location.

 

[Phurfur]

Unless this guy was some sort of gangster, how the hell could he have been "targeted" and they still don't know who did it? How many people would have wanted him killed?

Today people kill someone for looking at them wrong. It is the society we have created.

 

[T Bell]

Unless this guy was some sort of gangster, how the hell could he have been "targeted" and they still don't know who did it? How many people would have wanted him killed?

Today people kill someone for looking at them wrong. It is the society we have created.

This was an important part of my statement. Obviously they were able to find this guy by essentially figuring out who was both in the area of the shooting and also at that nightclub. This wasn't purely random where someone walks up to a car and shot. There was something that preceded it, however thin it was. Either way, very crazy stuff. Do they have any more information about exactly what happened? Was it related to the women that Collier and his buddy were following?

 

[[scooter]]

Unless this guy was some sort of gangster, how the hell could he have been "targeted" and they still don't know who did it? How many people would have wanted him killed?

Today people kill someone for looking at them wrong. It is the society we have created.

Yes, because it's not like that ever happened before.....like in the old west or 1950s south....

 

[Brutis]

Unless this guy was some sort of gangster, how the hell could he have been "targeted" and they still don't know who did it? How many people would have wanted him killed?

Today people kill someone for looking at them wrong. It is the society we have created.

Yes, because it's not like that ever happened before.....like in the old west or 1950s south....

Or in Compton

 

[grumpy]

Followup:

Tyrone Hartsfield found guilty of shooting Jaguar Richard Collier

Hartsfield's sentencing is scheduled for the week of Dec. 14.

As the verdict was announced Thursday night, former Jaguar Richard Collier leaned forward in his wheelchair as if in prayer.

A Jacksonville jury had just convicted the man who shot him of attempted first-degree murder. Tyrone Romero Hartsfield faces a life sentence.

But an emotional Collier, 28, said he took no joy in Hartsfield’s demise, even though he said he knows in his heart police got the right man.

“Things like this need to end,” he said.

Collier was shot six times last year as he and a former teammate waited outside a Riverside Avenue apartment. The ambush left him paralyzed below the waist and resulted in his left leg being amputated.

Prosecutors said Hartsfield followed Collier from a San Marco nightclub and tried to kill him in retaliation for Collier hitting him at another club four months earlier.

Jurors agreed, deliberating less than three hours after hearing from 40 witnesses over nearly two weeks.

Hartsfield was emotional, too, shaking his head in disbelief at the jury’s decision. He complained to Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper and later to reporters that he couldn’t get a fair trial in Jacksonville, less than 3 miles from where the Jaguars play football on Sundays.

“It’s wrong,” he said as bailiffs led him from the courtroom. “I ain’t the one who did this. All I ask for is a fair trial. Anywhere in the state of Florida.”

Request for venue change

Cooper had denied his oral request for a venue change after the six-member jury was picked with one African-American member. Both Hartsfield and Collier are black.

Cooper scheduled sentencing the week of Dec. 14.

Ann Finnell, one of Hartsfield’s attorneys, vowed to appeal the verdict. She said she still believes in Hartsfield’s innocence.

“I can’t honestly think of anything that we should have done differently,” she said.

Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda attributed the verdict to great police work and the courage of Collier and Stephfan Wilson, a convicted bank robber who testified about wearing a wire for police. On that recording, Hartsfield discussed with Wilson how to get their stories straight to fool police.

“The bottom line is this jury saw that the evidence we had was substantial,” de la Rionda said.

Police, prosecution criticized

In closing arguments Thursday, Finnell criticized the state’s evidence and investigation as ridiculous and pathetic. She said Jacksonville police did no meaningful investigation once they locked in on Hartsfield as their prime suspect.

“Mr. de la Rionda asks you not to speculate. … But the state’s whole case is built on speculation,” Finnell argued to jurors. “… Unfortunately it has not been about a search for who shot Richard Collier. That person or persons are still out there.”

But prosecutors said Hartsfield was their best witness, from his statements on the tape to his tearful testimony in court.

Shooter stole Collier’s dreams

De la Rionda spoke of how Collier rose from humble beginnings in Louisiana to making the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie. He called Hartsfield a coward who stole those dreams when he shot Collier in the back just before the 2008 season began.

“He couldn’t go toe to toe with him like a man should. He had to get him from behind,” de la Rionda said. “He couldn’t even look him in the face when he shot him. … He had a motive and he seized the opportunity.”

That motive was revenge, one of the oldest in history, de la Rionda told jurors. That was proven, he said, because Collier wasn’t robbed and the shooting wasn’t random. He was targeted, de la Rionda said.

The prosecutor referred several times to Hartsfield weeping on the witness stand, calling his tears “programmed.”

“The person who has shed the real tears in this case … is Richard Collier. He is the one that still bears the scars of the bullets that are still inside him,” de la Rionda said.

SourceRelated

 

[simsarge]

Followup:

Tyrone Hartsfield found guilty of shooting Jaguar Richard Collier

Hartsfield's sentencing is scheduled for the week of Dec. 14.

As the verdict was announced Thursday night, former Jaguar Richard Collier leaned forward in his wheelchair as if in prayer.

A Jacksonville jury had just convicted the man who shot him of attempted first-degree murder. Tyrone Romero Hartsfield faces a life sentence.

But an emotional Collier, 28, said he took no joy in Hartsfield’s demise, even though he said he knows in his heart police got the right man.

“Things like this need to end,” he said.

Collier was shot six times last year as he and a former teammate waited outside a Riverside Avenue apartment. The ambush left him paralyzed below the waist and resulted in his left leg being amputated.

Prosecutors said Hartsfield followed Collier from a San Marco nightclub and tried to kill him in retaliation for Collier hitting him at another club four months earlier.

Jurors agreed, deliberating less than three hours after hearing from 40 witnesses over nearly two weeks.

Hartsfield was emotional, too, shaking his head in disbelief at the jury’s decision. He complained to Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper and later to reporters that he couldn’t get a fair trial in Jacksonville, less than 3 miles from where the Jaguars play football on Sundays.

“It’s wrong,” he said as bailiffs led him from the courtroom. “I ain’t the one who did this. All I ask for is a fair trial. Anywhere in the state of Florida.”

Request for venue change

Cooper had denied his oral request for a venue change after the six-member jury was picked with one African-American member. Both Hartsfield and Collier are black.

Cooper scheduled sentencing the week of Dec. 14.

Ann Finnell, one of Hartsfield’s attorneys, vowed to appeal the verdict. She said she still believes in Hartsfield’s innocence.

“I can’t honestly think of anything that we should have done differently,” she said.

Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda attributed the verdict to great police work and the courage of Collier and Stephfan Wilson, a convicted bank robber who testified about wearing a wire for police. On that recording, Hartsfield discussed with Wilson how to get their stories straight to fool police.

“The bottom line is this jury saw that the evidence we had was substantial,” de la Rionda said.

Police, prosecution criticized

In closing arguments Thursday, Finnell criticized the state’s evidence and investigation as ridiculous and pathetic. She said Jacksonville police did no meaningful investigation once they locked in on Hartsfield as their prime suspect.

“Mr. de la Rionda asks you not to speculate. … But the state’s whole case is built on speculation,” Finnell argued to jurors. “… Unfortunately it has not been about a search for who shot Richard Collier. That person or persons are still out there.”

But prosecutors said Hartsfield was their best witness, from his statements on the tape to his tearful testimony in court.

Shooter stole Collier’s dreams

De la Rionda spoke of how Collier rose from humble beginnings in Louisiana to making the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie. He called Hartsfield a coward who stole those dreams when he shot Collier in the back just before the 2008 season began.

“He couldn’t go toe to toe with him like a man should. He had to get him from behind,” de la Rionda said. “He couldn’t even look him in the face when he shot him. … He had a motive and he seized the opportunity.”

That motive was revenge, one of the oldest in history, de la Rionda told jurors. That was proven, he said, because Collier wasn’t robbed and the shooting wasn’t random. He was targeted, de la Rionda said.

The prosecutor referred several times to Hartsfield weeping on the witness stand, calling his tears “programmed.”

“The person who has shed the real tears in this case … is Richard Collier. He is the one that still bears the scars of the bullets that are still inside him,” de la Rionda said.

SourceRelated

Sad story, all in all. A lot of lives ruined because some low life couldn't man up to having gotten the better of.

 

[JaxBill]

Local fishwrap had a more upbeat followup

Collier wins Ed Block awardFormer Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier won the team's Ed Block Courage Award.The award is presented annually to a player from each team who "exemplifies a commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage." The award is named after former Baltimore head athletic trainer Ed Block, who worked for the Colts from 1954-77."Richard suffered a significant off-field injury in September 2008 when he suffered a spinal-cord injury, resulting in paralysis of his lower extremities and amputation of one leg," Jaguars head athletic trainer Mike Ryan said. "He has fought a difficult battle, overcome all odds, and has moved forward and progressed into a new phase of his life. He spends significant time speaking in the community about being responsible for one's own actions. Richard is a true model of courage."After speaking at the World Congress on Disabilities Expo, Collier visited practice and the Jaguars' locker room Friday."The other day I was told they were going to try to put me up for [the award], but I just found out this morning," Collier said. "So I'm glad. I really appreciate it. It's an honor."Perhaps more surprising is the fact that Collier isn't technically a member of the Jaguars, but the team still voted him as the award winner. Collier and 31 other NFL players will be honored in March at the Ed Block Courage Awards dinner in Baltimore."I've never left [the Jaguars]," Collier said. "I never lost touch of none of my friends. They still come by the house. They still [come by and] sit back, watch TV. We still hang out. They still show me love, and it's genuine. I really appreciate that from [team owner] Wayne Weaver on down."Collier said his new life, which involves extensive public speaking, has taken some time for him to adjust to."But it's really gratifying for me to speak in front of people, and kind of tell my story," Collier said. "I enjoy it. It's so hard to inspire people. For people to come and tell you that you do, it's really huge. I enjoy doing what I'm doing."

 

[Maroney=Sped]

Followup:

Tyrone Hartsfield found guilty of shooting Jaguar Richard Collier

Hartsfield's sentencing is scheduled for the week of Dec. 14.

As the verdict was announced Thursday night, former Jaguar Richard Collier leaned forward in his wheelchair as if in prayer.

A Jacksonville jury had just convicted the man who shot him of attempted first-degree murder. Tyrone Romero Hartsfield faces a life sentence.

But an emotional Collier, 28, said he took no joy in Hartsfield’s demise, even though he said he knows in his heart police got the right man.

“Things like this need to end,” he said.

Collier was shot six times last year as he and a former teammate waited outside a Riverside Avenue apartment. The ambush left him paralyzed below the waist and resulted in his left leg being amputated.

Prosecutors said Hartsfield followed Collier from a San Marco nightclub and tried to kill him in retaliation for Collier hitting him at another club four months earlier.

Jurors agreed, deliberating less than three hours after hearing from 40 witnesses over nearly two weeks.

Hartsfield was emotional, too, shaking his head in disbelief at the jury’s decision. He complained to Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper and later to reporters that he couldn’t get a fair trial in Jacksonville, less than 3 miles from where the Jaguars play football on Sundays.

“It’s wrong,” he said as bailiffs led him from the courtroom. “I ain’t the one who did this. All I ask for is a fair trial. Anywhere in the state of Florida.”

Request for venue change

Cooper had denied his oral request for a venue change after the six-member jury was picked with one African-American member. Both Hartsfield and Collier are black.

Cooper scheduled sentencing the week of Dec. 14.

Ann Finnell, one of Hartsfield’s attorneys, vowed to appeal the verdict. She said she still believes in Hartsfield’s innocence.

“I can’t honestly think of anything that we should have done differently,” she said.

Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda attributed the verdict to great police work and the courage of Collier and Stephfan Wilson, a convicted bank robber who testified about wearing a wire for police. On that recording, Hartsfield discussed with Wilson how to get their stories straight to fool police.

“The bottom line is this jury saw that the evidence we had was substantial,” de la Rionda said.

Police, prosecution criticized

In closing arguments Thursday, Finnell criticized the state’s evidence and investigation as ridiculous and pathetic. She said Jacksonville police did no meaningful investigation once they locked in on Hartsfield as their prime suspect.

“Mr. de la Rionda asks you not to speculate. … But the state’s whole case is built on speculation,” Finnell argued to jurors. “… Unfortunately it has not been about a search for who shot Richard Collier. That person or persons are still out there.”

But prosecutors said Hartsfield was their best witness, from his statements on the tape to his tearful testimony in court.

Shooter stole Collier’s dreams

De la Rionda spoke of how Collier rose from humble beginnings in Louisiana to making the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie. He called Hartsfield a coward who stole those dreams when he shot Collier in the back just before the 2008 season began.

“He couldn’t go toe to toe with him like a man should. He had to get him from behind,” de la Rionda said. “He couldn’t even look him in the face when he shot him. … He had a motive and he seized the opportunity.”

That motive was revenge, one of the oldest in history, de la Rionda told jurors. That was proven, he said, because Collier wasn’t robbed and the shooting wasn’t random. He was targeted, de la Rionda said.

The prosecutor referred several times to Hartsfield weeping on the witness stand, calling his tears “programmed.”

“The person who has shed the real tears in this case … is Richard Collier. He is the one that still bears the scars of the bullets that are still inside him,” de la Rionda said.

SourceRelated

Sad story, all in all. A lot of lives ruined because some low life couldn't man up to having gotten the better of.

You shouldn't end your sentences in prepositions.