MIAMI — Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor was shot to death in what police suspect was a random burglary, and there are no indications the player was targeted or knew his assailant.
“There’s nothing that indicates thus far that there’s some kind of involvement on the victim’s part,” said Robert Parker, director of the Miami-Dade County Police Department, adding it was “more like a random event.”
He said evidence at Taylor’s home indicates one or more intruders barged into the house early Monday in an attempted burglary. After a confrontation inside the home, Taylor was shot once in the upper leg and died early Tuesday after losing a tremendous amount of blood.
Taylor’s family has scheduled a funeral service for 11 a.m. Monday at Pharmed Arena at Florida International University in Miami.
Police have no suspects in Taylor’s shooting and have asked the public to come forward with any information.
“We have no reason to think this was anything other than a burglary or a robbery involving an intruder,” Parker said.
Police are still investigating, however, a possible link to a Nov. 17 break-in at Taylor’s home, in which police said someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.
“Obviously, an expedient arrest would be what we would like,” Parker said at a news conference. “We have full hope that shortly, in short order, this individual or these individuals will be taken into custody.”
As police push to find Taylor’s killer, the player’s father and other members of his family traveled to Ashburn, Va. to meet with his teammates.
who are preparing for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
Taylor’s father, Pedro Taylor, and the team chaplain addressed players and coaches in the main auditorium, and the team practiced Wednesday afternoon.
Outside, a scattered few continued to mourn at a makeshift memorial, where Taylor’s No. 21 was painted on a grassy field. Flowers, balloons and other mementos remained from Tuesday night’s candlelight vigil, which attracted hundreds of fans.
Vigils continued, too, at Taylor’s high school, Gulliver Preparatory.
There, hundreds of students gathered for a memorial in which the player was remembered for his persona off the field and his unyielding defense on it.
“You found yourself drawn to him,” said John McCloskey, one of Taylor’s coaches at Gulliver. “He would charm you with his soft-spoken nature and his polite demeanor.”
Speakers contrasted the Taylor they knew with the one often portrayed in the media by his lapses — a drunken driving charge that was dismissed, his firings of two agents, numerous fines and an episode two years ago when he was accused of brandishing a gun.
“It’s sad that everybody thinks he’s this aggressive and mouthy athlete,” said Arriana Marion, who went to high school with Taylor. “He was really just a phenomenal person.”
Gulliver football coach Earl Sims said that when Taylor returned to his alma mater he was met by adoring students.
“The whole energy in the room changed because everybody’s eyes lit up and they were listening for the words that fell off his lips,” he said. “Every time he spoke, the environment changed.”
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