Broncos' Darrent Williams killed in drive-by shooting

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Broncos' Darrent Williams killed in drive-by shooting
By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer

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.

AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report.

[Black Top]

damn........ he had his whole life/career in front of him.

[Vincetheprince]

that was a tragedy i agree with wat u said he had his whole life ahead of him

[TomTom]

say are there any Denver niggas up in this bitch???..they said the gang that killed him is wanted for atleast 12 other murders..me and my potnas have always wondered what set did that cauze every news article i read, well they never actually speak on a specific set..any Denver cats up in here atleast no what set they are talking about..???

[Vincetheprince]

Well check this I got it of of wikipedia just write in his name if you don't believe me


[edit] Death
On January 1, 2007, Williams was shot during a drive-by shooting, at approximately 2:10 A.M. Williams and two other passengers were shot when another vehicle pulled beside his rented Hummer H2 limousine in downtown Denver, Colorado. The shooting occurred near 11th Ave. and Speer Blvd. It happened less than 12 hours after the Broncos played their final game of the 2006 season against the San Francisco 49ers in Denver.[3]

Williams had been attending a New Year's Eve party and birthday party held for and by Denver Nuggets player Kenyon Martin at the nightclub, "The Shelter." The Denver Police Department reported that the shooting was preceded by some type of altercation or argument at the nightclub between Crips gang members and other unknown patrons. A police spokesman said, "There was some confrontation between a group of people in the vehicle and a group at the nightclub."[2][4] Williams was not involved in the altercation.

According to the county coroner's office, Williams sustained a single gunshot wound to the neck, killing him instantly, .[5] After Williams was shot, he fell in the lap of Broncos teammate, Javon Walker. He was pronounced dead around 2:30 a.m. The two other passengers injured in the shooting, Brandon Flowers and Nicole Reindl, were both released from the hospital the day after the shooting.[6]


[edit] Aftermath
Denver police impounded a vehicle in connection with the shooting. [i][b]The suspected vehicle was registered to Brian Hicks, a 28-year-old Crips gang member, who was already incarcerated awaiting trial for attempted murder and drug charges. Other associates of Hicks were questioned as potential material witnesses to the Williams shooting. Rumors persist that it was a gang-related event; however, there hasn't been any concrete evidence to suggest that. Williams' family and teammates also say that the scenario was highly unlikely.

Williams was survived by his seven-year-old son, four-year-old daughter and 24-year-old girlfriend, all of whom live in Fort Worth, Texas. A memorial fund was set up in their name. Denver Nuggets stars, Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin, who were with Williams at the nightclub the evening of the shooting, planned to honor their friend by possibly setting up a college fund for Williams' children.[7] A fan-constructed memorial was formed on the southern wall of the fountain in front of Invesco Field at Mile High. Javon Walker decided to wear his hair in a "fro-hawk," in honor of Williams, who wore his hair in a similar way as a trademark.

On May 29, 2008, the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center was opened in Denver.[8]

On May 30, 2008, the Rocky Mountain News published a story claiming that it had obtained a signed confession letter by Crips gang member Willie D. Clark, in which he admitted to firing the shots that killed Williams.[9]


TO answer your question it was a member from the Crips

[OG Cabrini]

TO answer your question it was a member from the Crips

Did a little more research n the specific set is the "Tre Tre Crips".

[Vincetheprince]

thanks, did u read if they were big out there?

[OG Cabrini]

thanks, did u read if they were big out there?

when i searched it most of the results came from either Minneapolis or Colorado. It looks like they affiliated with rollin 30s in both places. And I think they pretty big, or they just bang hard cause they involved in alot of murders.

[Vincetheprince]

ya thats wat i read too they're heavily involved in murders i read somewhere that it was at least 12+ but didn't the rollin' 30's crip originate in LA i looked on the streetgangs site and it says that they have the secon largest turf (2.04 Square Miles) of all black gangs in LA except for the Eight Tray Gangsters. So I'm guessing they branched out too Colorado and Minneapolis and ya they do bang hard thats how they have soo much turf

[TomTom]

TO answer your question it was a member from the Crips

Did a little more research n the specific set is the "Tre Tre Crips".

dog i think u're kinda confirming what ie been hearing but i didnt wanna just put it out there like that w/o hearing from some Denver cats..i think they are the same as the Harlem 30's but i dont know how associated they are w/ them..Denver has a gang of LA gangs out there..one of my potnas who moved to Denver from the 405 got killed by some crips out there, so im up on game bout the Denver rips..

i dont think Darrent williams was gang-affiliated but heck i remember going to a couple of college parties at Okie state, and alot of the football players would be saying "cuz" left and right. I know he's from Funky-Town,TX, and them cats most def keep it hood out there tho..

[Vincetheprince]

I don't think he was in a gang but he was probably affiliated(he kicked it with some g's)