Andy Garcia is paying tribute to slain NFL star Sean Taylor, who died this week after being shot inside his Florida home during an apparent break-in.
The actor's niece, Jackie Garcia, was the girlfriend of the Redskins safety and was
there Monday night when they heard loud noises inside Taylor's home.
Jackie Garcia hid in the couple's bedroom with their 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, while Sean Taylor, 24, went to investigate the break-in.
The intruder fired at least two shots, one of which struck Sean Taylor in the groin. The assailant then fled as Taylor stumbled back to the bedroom and Jackie Garcia called 911 on her cellphone. The phone lines to Taylor's home had been cut.
Andy Garcia's niece was with Sean Taylor on the fateful night.
"His heroic action on that tragic night saved both of their lives and is a testament to his humanity and courage," Andy Garcia, the star of Ocean's Thirteen, said in a statement to the Miami Herald. "His spirit will live forever, in our hearts and through the legacy of his achievements and the family he leaves behind."
Jackie Garcia and Sean Taylor were high school sweethearts at South Florida's Gulliver Preparatory School and attended the University of Miami together.
"Sean Taylor as known to many as an extraordinary athlete and unquestionable teammate," Andy Garcia, 51, added. "To those of us who had the good fortune to count him as a member of our extended family, we will always remember him as a caring and loving individual."
The Miami-Dade police director said Wednesday that authorities have "no reason to think this was anything other than a burglary or a robbery."
There are no suspects in the murder of Sean Taylor, who died at the hospital after suffering major blood loss and brain damage as a result of the shooting.
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22 Comments
November 29th, 2007 11:42 PM
This story does not add up to me. When I hear a noise in my home and my husband goes to check on the issue, I normally stay in the room, but remain sitting straight up in bed. My house was also broken into one evening...the next day we had all types of motion detecters and alarms installed the very next day. We never turned them off, even in the daytime we kept them on. It doesn't add up that they would be there asleep with no security when they just went through a break in and it doesn't make sense that a grown woman would hide her infant under a cover if she feels that threatened. Nevermind hiding in a closet or bathroom. The covers hunh. Yeah right. This story is very fishy to me!!!
December 1st, 2007 3:43 PM
That is the very same question alot of people seem to be asking. I am starting to think Sean thought he was invicible. What other reason would you NOT install security after someone already came in an invaded your privacy? Not to mention their is an infant child in the home to secure. I would hate to think that Ms. Garcia had something to do with this being they were high school sweethearts. Her along with her child are the very ones who would gain from his death. This is a very strange story. And one more thing....why would you take a knife to a gun fight? What the heck was the machete suppose to do? If someone is breaking into a home clearly they would not come empty handed. Oh maybe Sean thought they had another kitchen knife.!!!
December 1st, 2007 5:36 PM
During the first break-in, no one was there so they probably thought it was a simple intruder since there had been 3 break-ins in that neighborhood this month and he was not allowed to own a gun because he was on probation for something that happened in 2005 where he pleaded guilty and had to speak at local schools and give donations to those schools as well.
December 1st, 2007 6:05 PM
Lisa you are just out of this world. How dare you accuse or make comments on what you would do in that situation. "YOU WASN"T THERE". You are also forget that isn't wher he lives year round. Maybe he should have called you to install the alarm system for him. I guess you didn't read that "THE PHONE LINES WERE CUT".He lives in Virginia during the season so that wasn't a priority for me. He was there for one day to check on things and see his family. Everyone has to add there two cents about what they would have done "JUST SHUT UP". When it's you time to go it's your time, whatever way that may be. An by the way he couldn't carry a gun because he was on probation from attempting to hurt someone who stole things from him. "Wonderin too" How do you know where the bathroom was?????? Or the closet?????? Have you been in his house???? Maybe you where the one who broke in before!!!!! Since you seem to know the layout of his house......He tried to lock the bedroom door and the kicked it down!!!! That's what happen. Do your research before you make comments on someone especially if a life was lost. Who would you feel if this was loved one??????????
December 1st, 2007 6:22 PM
yes Lisa, I don't know how you could say it doesn't add up..what doesn't add up? You don't make sense. When your scared out of your mind, your not thinking 100%. Fear takes over. Everyone reacts to fear differently. Who are you to judge how the situation was handled. I hate when people like you tell people how they are suppose to react. Your ignorant.
December 1st, 2007 6:51 PM
so sad, they both are/were so young to lose each other, and the daughter to grow up without a dad., so sad., my father die (from a illness)when i saw 2 and my mother was 21, she never remarried( that once in a life time love, i guess, anyway, my GOD bless the family in this very sad time., and the young lady did the right thing, protect your young., and mr taylor, what a brave man.,
December 1st, 2007 7:26 PM
You.. why are you attacking Lisa for her opinion? A good detective will ask all those questions Lisa is asking plus some.
Anwya, peace to everyone and my condolences to this family and all the many nameless families going through the same thing in this country. The violence has to end before it ends us all. Are we not civilized?
December 2nd, 2007 5:10 PM
These people that are posting terrible assumptions should be ashamed of themselves. Here you have 2 young kids with a baby..who were awakened in the middle of the night. They were scared, people react differntly to fear, a young man was just trying to protect his family. I cant imagine the fear they experienced. For people to imply she had something to gain?? They have captured the murderers..She had nothing to do with it and she could not have prevented it. Shame on you Lisa!! God bless Seans girlfriend and his daughter.
December 2nd, 2007 7:54 PM
It's sad i am reading these comments and thx to Rebecca and the others that had the sense not to say negative things for reading my mind ppl are so dumb or should i say ignorant to the fact that this girl grew up around money shes been with Sean since high school. Her family is the Garcias in Miami we all went to the same private school next time read or do some research before you judge ppl...or better yet try being in that situation....STOP WITH THE NEGATIVITY!!!!! HOW ABOUT YOU JUST PRAY FOR THE FAMILY.....
December 2nd, 2007 9:31 PM
Lisa, I found your comments extremely offensive. You are making assumptions that the girlfriend is not telling the truth. Well what would be her motive for lieing about what really happened? Are you hinting that she had something to do with the murder. Theyve already caught the killers and soon enough their confessions will be public record. Just because you sit up straight in your bed when you hear noises doesnt mean every woman in the world reacts the same way. Some may hid, some may cry, some may even grab a weapon and run downstairs! Your assumptions are not well thought out and immature. To top it off the father of her child hasn't even been buried yet and you are already questioning the validity of her story. Very classy.