Bond denied for three in killing of Sean Taylor
December 1st, 2007
Fort Myers, FL (Sports Network) - Three of the four men arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor were in a Lee County court Saturday morning and denied bond after being charged with three counts.
According to the Miami Herald, 20-year-old Venjah Hunte, 18-year-old Charles Wardlow and 17-year-old Eric Rivera Jr. were charged with felony murder, home invasion and armed robbery.
The fourth man arrested Friday, 19-year-old Jason Mitchell, is expected to make his first court appearance Sunday.
Robert Parker, director of the Miami-Dade County Police Department, said Friday night that police have confessions, but wouldn't elaborate. He added that police believe the four men broke into Taylor's Palmetto Bay home to steal items, not with the intent to kill.
"They certainly were not going there to kill someone," Parker said at a Friday news conference. "Who cares what they went there to do, they're going to be charged with murder."
Taylor, 24, died Tuesday, one day after being shot in the upper leg. Miami- Dade patrol officers received a call about 1:45 a.m. (et) Monday. Paramedics responded and found Taylor with a gunshot wound.
Reports indicate Taylor was fatally shot while his girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, and their 18-month old daughter were in bed. Taylor reportedly grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection, but someone reportedly broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one hitting Taylor.
Taylor was flown to the Ryder Trauma Center of Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he underwent surgery, but later passed away after losing a significant amount of blood due to damage from the bullet to his femoral artery.
A neighbor of Wardlow's told the Washington Post that Wardlow's brother, Christopher Devon Wardlow, was dating Taylor's half-sister, Sasha Johnson.
The family of Mitchell told The Miami Herald that he had attended a birthday party for Johnson, at Taylor's house. The Herald reports investigators think Taylor's relatives may have bragged about his wealth.
Police are also trying to find out if the same suspects were involved in a break-in at the same house on November 18. In that case, the Herald reports the house was ransacked and a knife was left on Taylor's bed.
Taylor was in his fourth NFL season, all with the Redskins, who selected him with the fifth overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft.
The former Miami-Florida All-American earned his first Pro Bowl berth last season and this year was leading the Redskins with five interceptions. He had missed the team's previous two games with a knee injury.
Taylor was engaged to be married and leaves behind an 18-month-old daughter named Jackie. A public funeral for Taylor is scheduled for Monday at Florida International University.
Have a nice life scumbags. 