| Remembering Sean Taylor: Thousands Attend Funeral |
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Photo Gallery: Sean Taylor's Funeral
VIDEO: Roger Goodall-NFL Commissioner
VIDEO: Reverend Jesse Jackson
VIDEO: Coach Joe Gibbs
VIDEO: Clinton Portis
VIDEO: Lavar Arrington
VIDEO: Drew Rosenhaus-NFL Agent
VIDEO: Jazmin Taylor-Sean's Sister
VIDEO: Michael Outar-Sean's Brother
VIDEO: Carolina Garcia-Sean's Girlfriend's Sister
VIDEO: Randy Shannon-Sean's Coach at University of Miami
MIAMI (AP) -- Thousands filled a university arena for Sean Taylor's funeral Monday, with his coach praising his "excitement for life" and the NFL commissioner telling mourners the Washington Redskins star "loved football and football loved him back."
The funeral comes a week after Taylor was shot in his home and days after four men were charged with killing him during the robbery. A lawyer for one of the suspects confirmed there was a fifth suspect.
Taylor's casket was surrounded by bouquets while a video display behind it showed Taylor from his days with the Redskins, Miami Hurricanes and high school.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said it had been a "sad week" for the league family.
"It's times like this that all of us struggle to find meaning in life," Goodell told the mourners. "The NFL was proud of Sean Taylor. He loved football and football loved him back. But more importantly, it was what he was as a man and what he was becoming as a man."
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs spoke to Taylor's growing spirituality.
"I think he's going to have 100-year football games," Gibbs said. "He had excitement for life and certainly he can still live forever. For me personally, I want to play on Sean's team."
The Rev. Jesse Jackson sat with the athlete's father, Florida City Police Chief Pedro Taylor, then took the podium and called for an end to violence.
Clinton Portis, a Redskins running back and close friend of Taylor's, said seeing Taylor tackle another player was invigorating, earning chuckles from the audience.
"It was exciting to have Sean on your team," Portis said. "He would always be there no matter what."
Portis also spoke to the change everyone saw Taylor undergo with his daughter's birth. "Sean was living for his child, living for his girl," he said.
"I never wanted you to leave, my heart that loves you will always grieve," Taylor's sister, Jazmin, said.
Actor Andy Garcia was also among the mourners. His niece, Jackie Garcia, was Taylor's girlfriend and was in the home when he was shot.
Former Hurricanes coaches Larry Coker and Butch Davis sat in the front row, along with current coach Randy Shannon. The Redskins organization filled one section of the building.
The remembrances for the 24-year-old player began Sunday night. Thousands paid respects at a wake at Second Baptist Church and at a vigil at the University of Miami.
Meanwhile, four young men charged with killing Taylor sat in jail cells on the other side of the state in Fort Myers.
Out of respect to Taylor's family, the suspects are expected to be transported to Miami after the funeral, said attorney Sawyer Smith, who is representing suspect Jason Mitchell, 19.
Ed Griffith, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office, said the men could be in court as early as Tuesday morning.
Also charged are Eric Rivera, 17; Charles Wardlow, 18; and Venjah Hunte, 20. All face charges of unpremeditated murder, home invasion with a firearm or another deadly weapon and armed burglary.
Smith said there is a fifth suspect but declined to elaborate. Miami-Dade police spokesman Juan Villalba refused to confirm that.
Probable cause affidavits for Mitchell and Rivera obtained by The Associated Press said the two confessed to participating in armed burglary. According to the reports, Mitchell and Rivera admitted entering the home and said someone had a gun and shot Taylor, but they didn't identify who. Police and attorneys also have said some of the young men confessed, though they wouldn't elaborate.
Taylor died Nov. 27, one day after being shot at his home in an affluent Miami suburb. Police said the suspects were looking for a simple burglary, but it turned bloody when they were startled to find Taylor home.
The suspects all have prior arrests, according to police, including drug, theft and gun charges, though friends and family have defended them.
Police remain tightlipped about how the suspects wound up at Taylor's home. But his former attorney Richard Sharpstein said Taylor's sister was dating a relative of Wardlow and that one or more people tied to the suspects may have attended her 21st birthday party at the athlete's home.
Miami-Dade police wouldn't confirm any of the possible links.
The day of the robbery, Taylor and Garcia were awakened by loud noises and within moments he was shot. Neither the couple's 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, nor Garcia were injured, but the bullet hit the femoral artery in Taylor's leg, causing significant blood loss. He never regained consciousness.
Authorities haven't said whether they've linked the suspects to a break-in at Taylor's home eight days before the shooting.
Associated Press Writers Rasha Madkour, Sarah Larimer and Matt Sedensky contributed to this report.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
MIAMI (AP) -- A fourth man charged in the shooting death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor appeared in court Sunday and, like his co-defendants, was denied bond.
Jason Mitchell, 19, appeared briefly via videoconference in a Fort Myers courtroom. Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, he responded quietly when asked if he understood the charges. "He looks like he's in shock," said Sawyer Smith, one of his attorneys.
Three others -- Eric Rivera, 17; Charles Wardlow, 18; and Venjah Hunte, 20 -- made their first court appearance Saturday.
All four have been charged with unpremeditated murder, armed burglary and home invasion with a firearm or another deadly weapon.
Probable cause affidavits for Mitchell and Rivera obtained by the Associated Press said the two confessed to participating in armed burglary. According to the reports, Mitchell and Rivera admitted entering the home and said someone had a gun and shot Taylor, but they didn't identify who.
Police and attorneys also have said some of the young men confessed, though they wouldn't elaborate.
The four suspects will be transported to Miami, perhaps as early as Sunday, when thousands are expected to gather to mourn the 24-year-old Pro Bowl safety.
A public viewing was scheduled Sunday evening; a massive funeral was set for Monday at a Florida International University arena.
Taylor died Tuesday, one day after being shot at his home in an affluent Miami suburb. Police said the suspects were looking for a simple burglary, but it turned bloody when they were startled to find Taylor home.
The suspects all have prior arrests, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office records.
Wardlow was arrested twice for selling marijuana and once for grand theft of a vehicle, and Hunte was arrested previously this year on drug and trespassing charges.
Mitchell has been arrested twice, most recently in October on charges of driving with a suspended license and violation of probation. Rivera was arrested in October for trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, and he previously was behind bars for altering the identification number on a firearm.
Those who know the young suspects attempted to defend them.
Cordaveous Brown, 16, who said he was a close friend of Rivera, described the suspect as calm and quiet. "He's not the type of guy to do something like this," he said. A woman who identified herself as Wardlow's grandmother called him "a sweet young man," and Jose Ortiz, a 36-year-old neighbor of Hunte, said he'd never heard of any problems or trouble surrounding the accused.
Smith, who represents Mitchell and Rivera, simply said the suspects were terrified.
Police remain tightlipped about how the suspects wound up at Taylor's home. The Miami Herald reported Mitchell cut the player's lawn and did other chores at the house and that Taylor's sister Sasha dates Wardlow's cousin. The Naples Daily News quoted a woman who identified herself as Jason Mitchell's mother as saying her son was at a birthday party at Taylor's home within the past two months.
Taylor's former attorney Richard Sharpstein said Taylor's sister had a 21st birthday party at her brother's home on Thanksgiving weekend. Bennie Williams, a neighbor to Wardlow's cousin, said he had seen Taylor's sister Sasha in the area recently. "She was here all last week for the holidays," he said.
Miami-Dade police wouldn't confirm any of the possible links.
Police have said the four suspects were intent on stealing, not killing.
"Murder or shooting someone was not their initial motive," Miami-Dade County police Director Robert Parker said.
Four People Formally Arrested in Taylor Murder |
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MIAMI (AP) -- The Miami-Dade Police Department arrested four people Friday in connection with the fatal shooting of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.
Miami-Dade police department spokeswoman Linda O'Brien identified the men as: Venjah K. Hunte, 20; Eric Rivera Jr., 17; Jason Scott Mitchell, 17; and Charles Kendrick Lee Wardlow, 18.
Taylor died Tuesday, one day after being shot at his home in an affluent Miami suburb during what officials said appeared to be an attempted burglary.
"They were certainly not looking to go there and kill anyone," Miami-Dade police director Robert Parker said. He said authorities had more than one confession but would not elaborate.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
By JESSICA GRESKO
Associated Press Writer
MIAMI (AP) -- Police have detained at least three people in the Fort Myers area for questioning in the death of Washington Redskins football star Sean Taylor.
A law enforcement official in Lee County confirmed the men from the Fort Myers area were in custody, but requested anonymity because the investigation is being handled by Miami-Dade County police.
Miami-Dade police Detective Carlos Maura said he was not aware of anyone in custody. He said only that detectives were in the Fort Myers area for a case, but declined to say which one.
The Miami Herald, which first reported the development on its Web site, said investigators believe three suspects learned of Taylor's house through someone who unwittingly set up the burglary by bragging about his wealth. The suspects include two teenagers and a man in his 20s, all from the Fort Myers area, the paper reported.
A telephone message left at the Florida City Police Department for Taylor's father, Chief Pedro Taylor, was not immediately returned.
Richard Sharpstein, a former Taylor lawyer and family friend, said: "It looks like the police are pursuing extremely good leads. It appears that the burglary was exactly as I've always stated, not random, that Sean's house was targeted."
Evidence at Taylor's home indicated one or more intruders barged into the house early Monday in an attempted burglary, Miami-Dade police director Robert Parker said Wednesday.
Early Monday, Taylor and longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, were awakened by loud noises at Taylor's home in an affluent Miami suburb, according to Sharpstein. Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection, Sharpstein said, then someone broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor in the upper leg. Neither the couple's 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, nor Garcia were injured in the attack.
The bullet damaged the femoral artery in Taylor's leg, causing significant blood loss. Taylor never regained consciousness and died a little more than 24 hours later.
A public viewing for Taylor is scheduled Sunday in Miami, and the entire Redskins organization plans to fly to Florida to attend Monday's funeral at Pharmed Arena at Florida International University.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Remember Sean Taylor As Hero Cut Down By Violence by Mark Gray
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Words of Sympathy About Sean Taylor
MIAMI (AP) -- 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.
The 24-year-old player died at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he had been airlifted after the shooting early Monday.
"It is with deep regret that a young man had to come to his end so soon," father Richard Taylor said in a statement on behalf of the family. "Many of his fans loved him because the way he played football. Many of his opponents feared him the way he approached the game. Others misunderstood him, many appreciated him and his family loved him."
A string of mourners, including Taylor's father, visited the player's home and embraced outside. Authorities entered the home, but it was unclear what they were doing.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will honor Taylor's memory at all games this weekend.
"This is a terrible tragedy involving the loss of a young man who leaves behind many people struggling to understand it," he said in a statement.
Latest Info:
Weblink: Athletes Who Become Victims - COMPLETE LIST
Weblink: Statements on the Death of Sean Taylor
Weblink: Sean Taylor Memorial Information
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VIDEO: Teammates, Fans React; Redskins Lower Flags
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VIDEO: Fox 5 Sports Dave Feldman on Taylor's Death
Taylor's No. 21 will be painted in a grass parking area leading into Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va. In addition, No. 21 will also be painted in front of the Redskins Hall of Fame store.
Fans already began a makeshift memorial by laying flowers on a field near the front entrance to the practice facility. Several people paid respects at Taylor's parking space.
"This is the worst imaginable tragedy," Redskins owner Daniel Snyder said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Sean's family."
Redskins teammate Clinton Portis also played with Taylor at the University of Miami. He had sensed a new maturity in his close friend.
"It's hard to expect a man to grow up overnight," Portis said. "But ever since he had his child, it was like a new Sean, and everybody around here knew it. He was always smiling, always happy, always talking about his child."
Two bouquets were left by a palm tree outside a front gate of the home. Beside the mailbox, an untouched newspaper lay with news of Taylor's shooting.
Taylor's death comes nearly a year after Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting following an argument at a Denver nightclub on Jan. 1. University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was shot to death in November 2006 several miles from Taylor's home in an unsolved killing.
Doctors had been encouraged late Monday when Taylor squeezed a nurse's hand, according to Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' vice president of football operations. But Sharpstein said he was told Taylor never regained consciousness after being transported to the hospital and that he wasn't sure how he had squeezed the nurse's hand.
"Maybe he was trying to say goodbye or something," Sharpstein said.
Taylor, the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft following an All-American season at the University of Miami, was shot early Monday in the upper leg, damaging the key femoral artery and causing significant blood loss.
Video: Happier Times: Sean Taylor and Redskins Teammates work hard on the next Eastern Motors commercial. Fox Sports Diane Roberts covered their story in December of 2005.
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"According to a preliminary investigation, it appears that the victim was shot inside the home by an intruder," Miami-Dade County police said in a statement. "We do not have a subject description at this time."
But police were still investigating the attack, which came just eight days after an intruder was reported at Taylor's home. Officers were sent to the home about 1:45 a.m. Monday after Taylor's girlfriend called 911.
Sharpstein said Taylor's girlfriend told him the couple was awakened by loud noises, and 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. Taylor's 1-year-old daughter, Jackie, was also in the house, but neither she nor Taylor's girlfriend were injured.
Police found signs of forced entry, but have not determined if they were caused Monday, or the previous burglary.
The shooting happened in the pale yellow house he bought two years ago. Eight days before the attack someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed at Taylor's home, according to police.
"They're really sifting through that incident and today's incident," Miami-Dade Detective Mario Rachid said, "to see if there's any correlation."
Taylor's death comes nearly a year after Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting following an argument at a Denver nightclub on Jan. 1. University of Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata was shot to death in November 2006 several miles from Taylor's home in an unsolved killing.
Reaction from Monday, November 26, 2007:
Video: Team Statement from Dan Snyder
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Video: James Thrash on Taylor Shooting
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Video: Fox 5 News Coverage Noon
Taylor starred as a running back and defensive back at Gulliver Prep in Miami. His father, Pedro Taylor, is police chief of Florida City.
A private man with a small inner circle, Taylor rarely granted interviews. But, behind the scenes, Taylor was described as personable and smart -- an emerging locker room leader.
"From the first day I met him, from then to now, it's just like night and day," Redskins receiver James Thrash said Monday. "He's really got his head on his shoulders and has been doing really well as far as just being a man. It's been awesome to see that growth."
After Taylor was drafted, problems soon began. Taylor fired his agent, then skipped part of the NFL's mandatory rookie symposium, drawing a $25,000 fine. Driving home late from a party during the season, he was pulled over and charged with drunken driving. The case was dismissed in court, but by then it had become a months-long distraction for the Redskins.
Taylor also was fined at least seven times for late hits, uniform violations and other infractions over his first three seasons, including a $17,000 penalty for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman during a 2006 playoff game.
Meanwhile, Taylor endured a yearlong legal battle after he was accused in 2005 of brandishing a gun at a man during a fight over allegedly stolen all-terrain vehicles near Taylor's home. He eventually pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to 18 months' probation.
Taylor said the end of the assault case was like "a gray cloud" being lifted. It was also around the time that his daughter was born, and teammates noticed a change.
"It's hard to expect a man to grow up overnight," said teammate and close friend Clinton Portis, who played with Taylor at Miami. "But ever since he had his child, it was like a new Sean, and everybody around here knew it. He was always smiling, always happy, always talking about his child."
On the field, Taylor's play was often erratic. Assistant coach Gregg Williams frequently called Taylor the best athlete he'd ever coached, but nearly every big play was mitigated by a blown assignment. Taylor led the NFL in missed tackles in 2006 yet made the Pro Bowl because of his reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the league.
This year, however, Taylor was allowed to play a true free safety position, using his speed and power to chase down passes and crush would-be receivers. His five interceptions tie for the league lead in the NFC, even though he missed the last two games because of a sprained knee.
Images:
Photo Gallery: Redskins Sean Taylor
Weblink: Sean Taylor through the years on miamiherald.com
"I just take this job very seriously," Taylor said in a rare group interview during training camp. "It's almost like, you play a kid's game for a king's ransom. And if you don't take it serious enough, eventually one day you're going to say, 'Oh, I could have done this, I could have done that.'
"So I just say, 'I'm healthy right now, I'm going into my fourth year, and why not do the best that I can?' And that's whatever it is, whether it's eating right or training myself right, whether it's studying harder, whatever I can do to better myself."
His hard work was well-noted.
"He loved football. He felt like that's what he was made to do," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "And I think what I've noticed over the last year and a half ... is he matured. I think his baby had a huge impact on him. There was a real growing up in his life."
