Broncos' Darrent Williams Is Shot Dead

[Maximus]

Broncos' Darrent Williams Is Shot Dead
Jan 1, 10:02 AM (ET)

By ARNIE STAPLETON

DENVER (AP) - Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting early Monday, his limousine sprayed with bullets in downtown Denver.

Team spokesman Jim Saccomano said police called him about 3 a.m. from the scene and told him three people had been shot, and the 24-year-old Williams had been killed. The killing came hours after the Broncos were eliminated from the playoff race.

A little after 2 a.m., a white Hummer limousine was fired on from a vehicle that pulled up along its side, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. There were at least eight bullet holes in the limo.

Three people in the limo were hit and were taken to hospitals, where one man was pronounced dead, Jackson said. The other man and woman who were shot were not identified.

Jackson said police were searching for suspects and interviewing witnesses.

"We have no motive yet," Jackson said. "We're hoping to talk with witnesses to find out where they were coming from, and that might give us some clues."

Saccomano said he spoke with coach Mike Shanahan and others in the organization. Hours earlier, the Broncos lost to San Francisco 26-23 in overtime.

"Complete shock. We're speechless. It takes words away. A terrible tragedy," Saccomano said.

Pro Bowl player Champ Bailey was among the players and team staff members who gathered at Denver Health Medical Center, where Williams' body was taken.

"He had a big heart and a lot of courage," said Cedric Smith, assistant strength and conditioning coach. "It's a tragedy, a complete tragedy. It's sickening."

Williams teamed with Bailey to give Denver one of the top cornerback tandems in the NFL. Williams finished the season with 88 tackles, 78 of them solo, and four interceptions.

Players and coaches are off Monday. They were scheduled to meet Tuesday before heading home for the offseason.

On Sunday against the 49ers, Williams had three tackles and returned two punts for 50 yards before leaving the game with a shoulder injury late in the second half. After the game he said he was planning to wait a few weeks before determining if he needed an operation.

In December, Williams spoke of his desire to return to his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, this offseason to talk to kids about staying out of gangs.

Williams, a second-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2005, made an immediate impact on the Broncos. He started nine times in his rookie season following a stellar college career.

 

[James]

Jesus, this is sad, Denver isnt a violent city at all, that is the last city i would think something like this would happen in.

 

[cdt]

He was one of my favorite players if only because I was the Broncos a lot in Madden..I liked watching him and Bailey though pretty dominant..sad he was only 24...absolutely sickening..

 

[Nicky]

:thumbdown:

 

[CornerThree]

Jesus, this is sad, Denver isnt a violent city at all, that is the last city i would think something like this would happen in.

HUH? Denver may not be Baltimore, but it still has a pretty high murder rate.

 

[PIP]

Terrible... I saw this guy with Kenard Lang and Gerard Warren at John Q's when they were in town a couple months ago... I had no idea it was him until Gerard Warren started to yell about who was paying the bill...I remember him yelling that "D-Will" is paying for dinner...

 

[Smooth]

This is pretty sad... He had a very bright future ahead of him... From what I've heard from reports, it looks like he wasn't even involved in the altercation, he just was in the wrong spot at the wrong time...

RIP Darrent Williams

 

[TrueCavsFan23]

Really sad,very solid young CB.Last year in madden Denver was the team I clicked with and he was awesome.Very fast and wasnt this his 2nd or 3rd year?Very horrible story and my prayers are with his friends and family.RIP Darrent Williams.

 

[James]

HUH? Denver may not be Baltimore, but it still has a pretty high murder rate.

Are you kidding me?

Denver Violent Crimes 4492
Denver Murders 59
Denver Rapes 328
Denver Robberies 1432
Denver Aggravated Assaults 2673

Source


59 Murders a year for a city with a population of a little more then 1/2 a million is EXTREMELY low. exactly what are you basing your opinion on?

 

[PIP]

I've spent some time in Denver and actually finished up one of my High school years there...One of the best and beautiful cities around... Colarado Springs is a place where I might just end up moving too...

Love Colarado..

 

[CornerThree]

Are you kidding me?


Source


59 Murders a year for a city with a population of a little more then 1/2 a million is EXTREMELY low. exactly what are you basing your opinion on?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate

Denver has a higher murder rate than NYC, for instance.

And Javon Walker was also in the Limo, but escaped harm.

Rule of thumb, nothing good happens after midnight.

 

[James]

just got this off ESPN, this guy sounds like a real low life.

DENVER -- Police have zeroed in on an SUV they believe might have been used in the drive-by slaying of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, who was eulogized in a private memorial at team headquarters Wednesday.

Police spokeswoman Virginia Quinones said officers were focusing on a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe, which might have been used in the killing early Monday. A gunman sprayed a white stretch Hummer limousine with at least 14 bullets, one of which struck Williams in the neck.

Hicks has been jailed since Nov. 9 on a charge of possessing drugs with intent to distribute, the papers reported. He is also accused of shooting at a woman who was later killed a week before she was to testify against him.

Hicks' wife, Kimaya James, told the Rocky Mountain News that police were looking for her husband's vehicle but that she didn't know who had been driving the Tahoe while he's been in jail. She declined to talk about Hicks or the Williams slaying.

Two other people were wounded in the attack and have been released from the hospital.

Investigators are pursuing other tips but have not identified any suspects, spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

Police aren't saying whether they know the motive for the slaying but have said there was a disturbance at a nightclub where Williams attended a New Year's Eve party shortly before he was killed. Investigators also are reviewing surveillance video from the club and footage from traffic cameras.

Williams' uncle, Demond Williams, said the cornerback was at the club to promote a rap group for his fledgling independent recording label, Ryno Entertainment.

The gathering at the club in downtown Denver also was billed as a birthday party for Denver Nuggets star Kenyon Martin, who has said he and other Nuggets left the club before any trouble arose.

Williams' teammates and coaches, along with owner Pat Bowlen and other team personnel gathered with Williams' relatives at the team's training complex on Wednesday for a private memorial in which all the players got a chance to say what Williams meant to them. There was also a slideshow of his career, a team spokesman said.

Also in attendance was former teammate Trevor Pryce, who plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

The group assembled in the team's conditioning center as a stream of mourners continued to add flowers, balloons and even a bottle of Orange Crush to a makeshift shrine at the team's complex. Other memorials were set up at the site of the killing and at Invesco Field, where the Broncos' season ended with a 26-23 loss to San Francisco on Sunday night, hours before the shooting.

Some of the players wore sweats, others jeans and others suits as they solemnly filed into the building.

"I would like to thank you all for the love and support that our family has received during this sad time," Williams' mother, Rosalind Williams, said in a statement afterward.

The Broncos will charter a flight to Fort Worth, Williams' home town, where the funeral will be held at Great Commission Baptist Church this weekend. It will be open to the public.

"I think it will be very special for our football team to be there as a group and to not only support Darrent's memory but his mom, and we're going to have everybody in the organization go," Shanahan said.

Although only 5-foot-8, Williams was full of confidence. He had 88 tackles and four interceptions in 2006 and returned two punts for 50 yards in his final game hours before his death.

Williams had a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter who live in Fort Worth. A memorial fund was set up in their honor, and Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony said he wanted to honor his friend, possibly by setting up a college fund for Williams' children.

In 2003, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was shot outside a Denver sports bar, and last April, Nuggets guard Julius Hodge was shot while driving on Interstate 76 in Denver. Both shootings occurred after disturbances at nightclubs.

"Especially if you're out in a club or a bar and you see commotion like that you want to get out," Anthony said. "They always say bullets have no names."

Both of those earlier cases remain unsolved.

Hodge, who played Tuesday night for the first time since he was shot five times nine months ago, said Williams' killing brought back nightmares of the night he was attacked.

"I pray every night for him and his family and friends," Hodge said. "They haven't found who shot me and I've pretty much let it go, but I pray that they find whoever shot him."

 

[James]

just got this off ESPN, sounds like the guy that owned the vehicle was a real low life and propably had some low life friends...you just cant say "Williams was doing something wrong" because really, he was doing the right thing, it was New Years Eve, so odds are people are going to be drinking, what does he do? Get a Limo so he doesnt have to worry about driving home drunk, Williams really seemed like a good person.

DENVER -- Police have zeroed in on an SUV they believe might have been used in the drive-by slaying of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, who was eulogized in a private memorial at team headquarters Wednesday.

Police spokeswoman Virginia Quinones said officers were focusing on a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe, which might have been used in the killing early Monday. A gunman sprayed a white stretch Hummer limousine with at least 14 bullets, one of which struck Williams in the neck.

Hicks has been jailed since Nov. 9 on a charge of possessing drugs with intent to distribute, the papers reported. He is also accused of shooting at a woman who was later killed a week before she was to testify against him.

Hicks' wife, Kimaya James, told the Rocky Mountain News that police were looking for her husband's vehicle but that she didn't know who had been driving the Tahoe while he's been in jail. She declined to talk about Hicks or the Williams slaying.

Two other people were wounded in the attack and have been released from the hospital.

Investigators are pursuing other tips but have not identified any suspects, spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

Police aren't saying whether they know the motive for the slaying but have said there was a disturbance at a nightclub where Williams attended a New Year's Eve party shortly before he was killed. Investigators also are reviewing surveillance video from the club and footage from traffic cameras.

Williams' uncle, Demond Williams, said the cornerback was at the club to promote a rap group for his fledgling independent recording label, Ryno Entertainment.

The gathering at the club in downtown Denver also was billed as a birthday party for Denver Nuggets star Kenyon Martin, who has said he and other Nuggets left the club before any trouble arose.

Williams' teammates and coaches, along with owner Pat Bowlen and other team personnel gathered with Williams' relatives at the team's training complex on Wednesday for a private memorial in which all the players got a chance to say what Williams meant to them. There was also a slideshow of his career, a team spokesman said.

Also in attendance was former teammate Trevor Pryce, who plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

The group assembled in the team's conditioning center as a stream of mourners continued to add flowers, balloons and even a bottle of Orange Crush to a makeshift shrine at the team's complex. Other memorials were set up at the site of the killing and at Invesco Field, where the Broncos' season ended with a 26-23 loss to San Francisco on Sunday night, hours before the shooting.

Some of the players wore sweats, others jeans and others suits as they solemnly filed into the building.

"I would like to thank you all for the love and support that our family has received during this sad time," Williams' mother, Rosalind Williams, said in a statement afterward.

The Broncos will charter a flight to Fort Worth, Williams' home town, where the funeral will be held at Great Commission Baptist Church this weekend. It will be open to the public.

"I think it will be very special for our football team to be there as a group and to not only support Darrent's memory but his mom, and we're going to have everybody in the organization go," Shanahan said.

Although only 5-foot-8, Williams was full of confidence. He had 88 tackles and four interceptions in 2006 and returned two punts for 50 yards in his final game hours before his death.

Williams had a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter who live in Fort Worth. A memorial fund was set up in their honor, and Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony said he wanted to honor his friend, possibly by setting up a college fund for Williams' children.

In 2003, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was shot outside a Denver sports bar, and last April, Nuggets guard Julius Hodge was shot while driving on Interstate 76 in Denver. Both shootings occurred after disturbances at nightclubs.

"Especially if you're out in a club or a bar and you see commotion like that you want to get out," Anthony said. "They always say bullets have no names."

Both of those earlier cases remain unsolved.

Hodge, who played Tuesday night for the first time since he was shot five times nine months ago, said Williams' killing brought back nightmares of the night he was attacked.

"I pray every night for him and his family and friends," Hodge said. "They haven't found who shot me and I've pretty much let it go, but I pray that they find whoever shot him."

 

[James]

just got this off ESPN, this guy sounds like a real low life.

DENVER -- Police have zeroed in on an SUV they believe might have been used in the drive-by slaying of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, who was eulogized in a private memorial at team headquarters Wednesday.

Police spokeswoman Virginia Quinones said officers were focusing on a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe, which might have been used in the killing early Monday. A gunman sprayed a white stretch Hummer limousine with at least 14 bullets, one of which struck Williams in the neck.

Hicks has been jailed since Nov. 9 on a charge of possessing drugs with intent to distribute, the papers reported. He is also accused of shooting at a woman who was later killed a week before she was to testify against him.

Hicks' wife, Kimaya James, told the Rocky Mountain News that police were looking for her husband's vehicle but that she didn't know who had been driving the Tahoe while he's been in jail. She declined to talk about Hicks or the Williams slaying.

Two other people were wounded in the attack and have been released from the hospital.

Investigators are pursuing other tips but have not identified any suspects, spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

Police aren't saying whether they know the motive for the slaying but have said there was a disturbance at a nightclub where Williams attended a New Year's Eve party shortly before he was killed. Investigators also are reviewing surveillance video from the club and footage from traffic cameras.

Williams' uncle, Demond Williams, said the cornerback was at the club to promote a rap group for his fledgling independent recording label, Ryno Entertainment.

The gathering at the club in downtown Denver also was billed as a birthday party for Denver Nuggets star Kenyon Martin, who has said he and other Nuggets left the club before any trouble arose.

Williams' teammates and coaches, along with owner Pat Bowlen and other team personnel gathered with Williams' relatives at the team's training complex on Wednesday for a private memorial in which all the players got a chance to say what Williams meant to them. There was also a slideshow of his career, a team spokesman said.

Also in attendance was former teammate Trevor Pryce, who plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

The group assembled in the team's conditioning center as a stream of mourners continued to add flowers, balloons and even a bottle of Orange Crush to a makeshift shrine at the team's complex. Other memorials were set up at the site of the killing and at Invesco Field, where the Broncos' season ended with a 26-23 loss to San Francisco on Sunday night, hours before the shooting.

Some of the players wore sweats, others jeans and others suits as they solemnly filed into the building.

"I would like to thank you all for the love and support that our family has received during this sad time," Williams' mother, Rosalind Williams, said in a statement afterward.

The Broncos will charter a flight to Fort Worth, Williams' home town, where the funeral will be held at Great Commission Baptist Church this weekend. It will be open to the public.

"I think it will be very special for our football team to be there as a group and to not only support Darrent's memory but his mom, and we're going to have everybody in the organization go," Shanahan said.

Although only 5-foot-8, Williams was full of confidence. He had 88 tackles and four interceptions in 2006 and returned two punts for 50 yards in his final game hours before his death.

Williams had a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter who live in Fort Worth. A memorial fund was set up in their honor, and Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony said he wanted to honor his friend, possibly by setting up a college fund for Williams' children.

In 2003, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was shot outside a Denver sports bar, and last April, Nuggets guard Julius Hodge was shot while driving on Interstate 76 in Denver. Both shootings occurred after disturbances at nightclubs.

"Especially if you're out in a club or a bar and you see commotion like that you want to get out," Anthony said. "They always say bullets have no names."

Both of those earlier cases remain unsolved.

Hodge, who played Tuesday night for the first time since he was shot five times nine months ago, said Williams' killing brought back nightmares of the night he was attacked.

"I pray every night for him and his family and friends," Hodge said. "They haven't found who shot me and I've pretty much let it go, but I pray that they find whoever shot him."

 

[James]

im having trouble posting, so i edited my last post...