Shocking Details Emerge From Attack By RON WORD
, AP
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 29) - Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle
Richard Collier, who was shot earlier this month, is paralyzed below the
waist and had his left leg amputated.
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Phil Coale, AP
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Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier's spinal cord was severed by a
bullet when he was attacked outside an apartment complex earlier this month.
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Collier
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Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier's spinal cord was severed by a
bullet when he was attacked outside an apartment complex earlier this month.
Phil Coale, AP
Kenneth Pettway, who was released by the Jaguars after the shooting, was
also in the car at the time of the shooting.
Getty Images
Collier lost the left tackle spot to Khalif Barnes during the preseason,
leaving the three-year veteran in a reserve role.
Doug Benc, Getty Images
Collier ran into legal trouble last year when he fell asleep at a
McDonald's drive-thru window, but he eventually pleaded no contest and
accepted a probation deal.
Getty Images
Collier was an undrafted free agent out of Valdosta State, but he had
appeared in eight games with Jacksonville in two seasons, including one
start at tackle.
Ronen Zilberman, AP
Dr. Andy Kerwin, a surgeon for the University of Florida at Shands
Jacksonville hospital, said Collier, who had 14 bullet wounds, is now in
good condition after being previously listed in critical condition.
Kerwin said Collier had bullet wounds to the back, left groin, left legs and
right buttock. In addition, a bullet severed his spinal cord, paralyzing him
from the waist down. The amputation was the result of damage to his left leg
and groin, which had blood clots.
Collier had five bullets removed from his urinary bladder and suffered bouts
of pneumonia, infections and renal failure.
The player will undergo physical therapy to learn to get from his bed to a
wheelchair. He will never walk again, the doctor said.
Collier was on a ventilator for about three weeks and has no memory of the
shooting, Kerwin said.
"His overall condition has improved greatly," Kerwin said. "We expect him to
be discharged soon."
Collier's agent Jeff Jankovich said the player's family wanted to make sure
Collier understood what had happened to him before releasing it to the
public. He said they even kept the Jaguars in the dark.
"He has extreme grief for a lifetime of dreams, he won't be able to
fulfill," the agent said.
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PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Jeff Reed #3 and Santonio Holmes #10 of the
Pittsburgh Steelers high five each other after Reed kicked a 50-yard field
goal in the first half against the Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2008 at
Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty
Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Reed;Santonio Holmes
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PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: LeRon McLain #33 of the Baltimore Ravens runs
against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 29, 2008 at Heinz Field in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local
Caption *** LeRon McLain
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Jeff Reed #3 and Santonio Holmes #10 of the
Pittsburgh Steelers high five each other after Reed kicked a 50-yard field
goal in the first half against the Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2008 at
Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty
Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Reed;Santonio Holmes
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Matt Stover #3 of the Baltimore Ravens kicks a
field goal in the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September
29, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick
Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Stover
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh
Steelers watches the scoreboard during a timeout against the Baltimore
Ravens on September 29, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Tomlin
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh
Steelers runs against the Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2008 at Heinz
Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) ***
Local Caption *** Rashard Mendenhall
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to
pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 29, 2008 at Heinz Field in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local
Caption *** Joe Flacco
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Daniel Wilcox #83 of the Baltimore Ravens
catches a touchdown pass late in the second quarter in front of Troy
Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 29, 2008 at Heinz Field
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local
Caption *** Daniel Wilcox;Troy Polamalu
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh
Steelers is sacked by Terrell Suggs #55 of the Baltimore Ravens on September
29, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick
Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger;Terrell Suggs
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers
tackles Willis McGahee #23 of the Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2008 at
Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty
Images) *** Local Caption *** James Farrior;Willis McGahee
Getty Images
PITTSBURGH - SEPTEMBER 29: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens passes
against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 29, 2008 at Heinz Field in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) *** Local
Caption *** Joe Flacco
Getty Images
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio and several players attended the news
conference.
"It's a tragedy this young man was caught up in this violence," Del Rio
said. "It's a great tragedy for a young man who had such a promising
future."
Collier and former teammate Kenneth Pettway were waiting for two women
outside an apartment complex early Sept. 2 when a gunman fired into the
vehicle, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Pettway was not
injured.
The motive behind the attack on Collier is unknown, but investigators said
earlier he appeared to be targeted.
Collier was the third NFL player shot in the past 18 months. Washington
Redskins star Sean Taylor was fatally shot during what police said was a
botched burglary attempt at his Miami-area home in November. Broncos
cornerback Williams was killed when his rented limousine was sprayed with
bullets minutes after leaving a New Year's party at a club in 2007.
--
"Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over
their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change."
- Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965
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