DENVER - 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. ___ AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report.
Posted by: justanotherparatrooper
that sucks... Rip
Posted by: Inspector
Broncos cornerback shot and killed in drive-by
By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer DENVER (AP) — Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Denver early Monday morning.
Team spokesman Jim Saccomano said police called him about 3 a.m. from the scene of the shooting and told him three people had been shot and that Williams had been killed.
A little after 2 a.m., a white Hummer limousine was sprayed with bullets from a vehicle that pulled up along its side, said Sonny Jackson, spokesperson for the Denver Police Department.
Three people in the limousine were hit and were taken to area 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 the 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.
"Complete shock. We're speechless. It takes words away. A terrible tragedy," Saccomano said.
Hours before the shooting, the Broncos lost to San Francisco 26-23 in overtime, eliminating them from the playoff race.
The 24-year-old Williams finished the season with 88 tackles, 78 of them solo, and four interceptions.
On Sunday against the 49ers, he had three tackles and returned two punts for 50 yards before leaving the game with a shoulder injury late in the second half.
Williams, a second-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2005, made an immediate impact on the Broncos, starting nine times in his rookie season following a stellar career at Oklahoma State, where he totaled 11 interceptions and scored three touchdowns on punt returns.
Players and coaches are off Monday. They were scheduled to meet Tuesday before heading home for the offseason.
Wow, first his team loses a playoff berth and then somebody lights up his H-2 stretch limo and he's kilt dead. Sucks to be him. Maybe he should have ordered the Armored H-2 limo from Baghdad's Green Zone. It costs more per hour but well worth it.
Posted by: Stevec
Rip
Posted by: 4ransom
Police find SUV possibly connected to Williams' slaying
Associated Press
DENVER -- Police impounded a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe early Thursday they believe might have been used in a New Year's Day drive-by shooting that killed Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams. Passers-by spotted the vehicle parked south of Denver International Airport and called police at about 6:30 a.m., police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "The community once again came through for us," he said. Jackson said the vehicle had a license plate that matched the one investigators were looking for. He declined to describe the condition of the vehicle. State confidentiality laws prevent the police from saying who a vehicle is registered to. However, the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post, citing sources they didn't name, reported the SUV belongs to Brian K. Hicks of Denver, who is jailed on drug and attempted murder charges. Television images appeared to show the Tahoe had been painted black on the sides, front and back, but the top remained white -- the original color of the vehicle authorities were seeking. The vehicle was placed onto a flatbed tow truck and hauled away. Jackson said crime lab investigators would inspect the SUV, but he declined to discuss specifics of what they would look for or what tests they might conduct. The Tahoe was found on a street amid snow-covered empty lots and industrial buildings under construction. A housing subdivision stood in the distance. Traffic sped by on a nearby thoroughfare. Elisa Hall, who lives within view of the site where the Tahoe was found, said she hadn't noticed when the SUV was dropped off or impounded. "It's scary," she said. "You think you're safe. I think this is in the middle of nowhere. This is far from Denver." Although Hicks was behind bars on the day of the shooting, police want to know who was using his vehicle in the early morning hours of New Year's Day, when a gunman sprayed a white stretch Hummer limousine with at least 14 bullets, one of which struck Williams in the neck.
Hicks, 28, has been jailed since Nov. 9 on a charge of possessing drugs with intent to distribute. He also is accused of shooting at a woman who was later killed a week before she was to testify against him last month. 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 the Denver County Jail. Investigators have not identified any suspects in the attack on Williams that wounded two other people, spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "Officers are on the lookout for the vehicle of interest and they're talking to eyewitnesses and gathering evidence. We're not going to say what that evidence is or who we're talking to," Jackson said. Police also 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. Also in attendance was former teammate Trevor Pryce, who plays for the Baltimore Ravens. 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 before flying back to Texas. "Dee lived his life to the fullest. ... I know from all of the public outpouring of sympathy, my son in his short time on this earth touched many lives." The Broncos will charter a flight to Fort Worth, Williams' hometown, 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. "It is something we have to do as a family." 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, a 26-23 loss to San Francisco that eliminated the Broncos from playoff contention. 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. Anthony said he was with Williams at the nightclub in the hours before he was slain. 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 and neither case has been solved. Hodge, who played Tuesday night for the first time since he was shot five times April 8, 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."
A funeral for Darrent Williams is scheduled for noon Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. It will be open to the public. The funeral will take place at Great Commission Baptist Church, 7700 McCart Ave. Scheduled speakers include Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and head coach Mike Shanahan. A private memorial service is scheduled Friday in Fort Worth. Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil for Williams in Denver will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday at 10th Avenue and Broadway and conclude at West 11th Avenue and Speer Boulevard -- the site of the fatal shooting. A candlelight vigil organized by fans is set for 2:15 p.m. Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High, at the south entrance below the waterfall. -- ESPN.com news services
Posted by: kwflatbed
Arrest Made In Connection To Darrent Williams Case
Willie Clark Is One Of 3 Men Named Persons Of Interest
DENVER -- Denver Police Department's Fugitive Unit has made an arrest in the Darrent Willams murder case, affiliate station KMGH in Denver reported.
Willie Clark, 23, was arrested at 5:45 p.m. for alleged parole violations but "will be asked to provide any information that he may have in relation to the homicide of Denver Bronco Darrent Williams," Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.
"His name surfaced during our investigation as someone we want to talk to," Jackson said. "We are not calling him a suspect at this time. We're just talking to him about the information he may have that is relevant to this case ... He is a person who might have pertinent information." An associate of Clark was also detained but he was released, police said.
Clark was one of three men first named by KMGH as persons of interest in the case, KMGH Investigator Tony Kovaleski confirmed.
The other two men remain at large, but Denver police declined to speak about them.
"Denver police will not confirm any rumors, or speculation, about anything related to this case. As a policy we cannot talk about witness information, suspect information, or evidence," Jackson said.
Photos and names of the men were circulated to prevent them from leaving the metro area and the state.
"We have talked to 50 people in this case thus far and I fear, before it's over, we're going to be talking to a lot more. We have not gotten all the information we need to see where we want to go," Jackson said.
Clark served time for auto theft and had arrests on charges of felony assault, obstructing a police officer, drug possession and reckless endangerment.
Police would not say if Clark is a gang member. There are reports that the drive-by shooting that killed Williams and injured two others was a gang-related attack.
At least 14 shots were fired into the stretch Hummer that had just left a New Year's Eve party. Williams was struck once in the neck.
Police won't disclose whether they know the motive for the slaying but have said there was an altercation at the nightclub.
Clark's picture was not released because investigators may use it later for a photo lineup, Kovaleski said.
Denver police said they continue to seek information regarding this investigation and ask anyone with information concerning this case to contact the Denver Police Department or the Crime Stopper Line at 720-913-STOP (6737). A $2,000 reward is offered for information that leads to an arrest in the case.
Investigators also have obtained a warrant to search a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe seized Thursday. Police believe the SUV, found in a remote neighborhood near Denver International Aiport, is suspected to have been used in the shooting. It had been crudely and partially spray-painted black, apparently to disguise it, police said.
The Tahoe's license plates also matched the one sought by investigators.
KMGH has learned that the SUV is registered to Brian K. Hicks of Denver, who remains in jail on $1 million bond on unrelated drug and attempted murder charges.
Hicks, 28, has been jailed since Nov. 9 on a charge of possessing drugs with intent to distribute. He also is accused of shooting at a woman who was later killed a week before she was to testify against him.
Hicks was in custody the day of the shooting, but police want to know who was using the vehicle in the early morning hours of New Year's Day.
Williams Remembered In Fort Worth
Williams' family and friends gathered Friday to remember the charismatic cornerback who escaped the tough streets but never forgot his roots.
Thousands of mourners filed past Williams' copper-colored casket during a memorial service at the Great Commission Baptist Church on Friday night, where Pastor Douglas E. Brown will officiate funeral services Saturday.
"We are here tonight to remember the life of this son, brother, friend, Darrent 'Dee-Will" Williams," Brown said. "We are here to remember his life."
In Fort Worth, people lined up at two microphones at the big church, which seats 2,500, plus another 800 in an overflow chapel, to tell Williams' family what he meant to them.
As they entered the church a few miles from where Williams grew up, mourners viewed giant photographs of Williams, one of the NFL's most promising young defensive backs.
A Broncos helmet sat at the front of the church and Williams' white No. 27 jersey was draped over the altar. Hundreds of people wore replica jerseys, many of them signed by Williams.
Williams was dressed in a black pinstriped suit with an orange tie and white shirt. Viewers filed past his casket for an hour before a choir sang, "I'm Trading My Sorrow," and the preacher said the night was for supporting the family so that the funeral could be a celebration of Williams' life.
Before the visitation, dozens of family members and friends gathered at the house where he grew up in the Carter Park neighborhood of Fort Worth.
"If somebody just walked up and didn't know he got killed or passed or whatever, they would say, 'Aw, damn. Dee must be home,"' said 25-year-old cousin Monte Wayne.
"Because this is what you would see. There'd be nothing but family and friends," Wayne said as he stood on the curb outside Williams' grandmother's house.
He pointed to the hard scrabble street and said that's where Williams first flashed his athletic skills that would make him a second-round pick by the Broncos in 2005 after a standout career at Oklahoma State.
The visitation at Great Commission Baptist Church was open to the public, as will be Saturday's funeral.
"I don't think it's going to hold everyone," said Carol Williams, an aunt of the Broncos player. "They say 'Yeah, Dee must be home.' Play cards, play dominoes, fish fry, barbecue. Dee was just a grounded person, just so sweet."
The Broncos will fly to Fort Worth on Saturday for the funeral, where coach Mike Shanahan and owner Pat Bowlen are expected to be among the speakers. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Mike Haynes, the league's vice president of player development, also will attend the funeral.
The NFL announced Friday it would return a $15,000 fine levied against Williams for arguing with an official in a Nov. 19 game against San Diego. League spokesman Greg Aiello said the money would be turned over to the Broncos to return to Williams' family.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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