Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot early Tuesday morning in Jacksonville, Florida and is reported to have suffered life threatening injuries. The 26 year old was shot several times and is listed in critical condition at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.
The shooting occurred around 2:45 a.m. in a middle class neighborhood just west of downtown Jacksonville. Collier and a former Jaguars player Kenneth Pettway had hit several nightclubs on Monday night and early Tuesday morning when they met two women.
The group decided to go to another location but they only wanted to take one car so the two groups headed to drop off a car at a suburban apartment building. Collier and Pettway, in a Cadillac Escalade, were waiting for the women to join them in their vehicle when gunfire erupted.
Ken Jefferson, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department spokesman said: “We’re not clear at this point as to the motive or suspect. This is all open right now, all fluid, and police are investigating as we speak.”
Collier is in his third year out of Valdosta State. The Jaguar’s picked him up as an undrafted free agent in 2006. The 6’7″, 345 pound lineman, is the third NFL player to be shot in the past 18 months.
Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins was killed during a botched burglary attempt at his Miami home in November 2007. Darrent Williams, Broncos cornerback, was killed when his rented limousine was peppered with bullets when he left a New Year’s party at a Denver club in 2007.
Photos below.