Police have no suspect in Taylor killing...

[SL-10]

Police have no suspect in Taylor killing

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer Wed Nov 28, 11:25 PM ET

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071129/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_redskins_taylor_slain;_ylt=Akoj_Z5IJpFT5nKcAO1 maD.s0NUE

ASHBURN, Va. - Sean Taylor's father urged the Washington Redskins to make a playoff push, while Miami police asked for the public's help to solve the safety's death in what they suspect was a random burglary.

Miami-Dade police director Robert Parker said Wednesday there were no indications the slain 24-year-old 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 Parker, adding it was "more like a random event."

Police have no suspects in the fatal shooting.

"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.

Evidence at Taylor's home indicates one or more intruders barged into the house early Monday in an attempted burglary, Parker said. 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. Redskins owner Dan Snyder is arranging for the entire football organization to attend.

At Redskins Park on Wednesday, Taylor's family and teammates came together to privately share tears and memories.

"Many of these guys were wondering, 'How in the world am I going to go out and do this on Sunday?'" said Brett Fuller, the team chaplain. "And when Mr. Taylor stood up and said go out and win these next five and make it to the playoffs, we felt a surge in the room, that he almost gave us permission to play well."

Fuller said Pedro Taylor's 10-minute speech was followed by 10 minutes of "hugs and thank yous."

Sean Taylor's brother, sister and uncle were also in attendance, in addition to his girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, who also addressed the team.

"Both of them, they kind of echoed Sean's passion for things," coach Joe Gibbs said. "And the way he cared about things."

The team then began to attempt to focus on its preparations for Sunday's home game against the Buffalo Bills. Players went to their game-planning meetings — which were shorter than normal — and later held a quieter-than-usual afternoon practice.

"Nothing was normal about today," linebacker London Fletcher said. "We had the meetings, but it wasn't the normal type of meetings. Practice, it was practice, but it just wasn't the same type of feeling, so to speak. We tried to make it feel the same, but I found myself thinking about Sean and imagining him out on the football field playing free safety for us."

Taylor's locker remained untouched, but the Redskins made the uncomfortably necessary move of dropping him from the official roster as part of a series of personnel moves.

The NFL announced every player in the league will wear a No. 21 decal on his helmet at this weekend's games to honor Taylor. Redskins players will wear the decal for the remainder of the season.

Defensive lineman Andre Carter was having to cope with the loss of a teammate for the second time in three years. He played for the San Francisco 49ers when offensive lineman Thomas Herrion died of a heart attack after a preseason game in September 2005.

"I've experienced the death of two teammates," Carter said. "No person wants to say that."

Carter said he was drawing on his experiences in San Francisco to help him through the week. Also, Gibbs received a call from 49ers coach Mike Nolan, who offered advice.

Players found it difficult to stay focused on Xs and Os in the meetings, while the physical nature of the practice was somewhat therapeutic. Even so, many players did not wish to speak to reporters, including Clinton Portis and Santana Moss, Taylor's closest friends on the team.

"The mentality of it all is you really want to do nothing," Carter said. "You just have these moments of sadness. ... The focus level is tough. But your teammates up in the sky looking down on you, they would want you to keep on pushing, keep on moving forward."

The Redskins are 5-6 and remain in contention for a playoff berth despite three straight losses. Fuller said Taylor's father didn't explicitly say the team should win and make the playoffs for his son, but many of the players took the field with that feeling.

"Win for Sean," Carter said. "But win for us."

Notes:@ WR Jimmy Farris was signed, LB Matt Sinclair was promoted from the practice squad, and OL Kevin Sampson was cut. WR Burl Toler was signed to the practice squad. ... The Washington Capitals planned a moment of silence for Taylor before the Wednesday night's home game against the Florida Panthers. ... G Randy Thomas, who hasn't played since September because of an arm injury, took part in practice but said he remained unsure when he would be able to play.

[SUPAFLYMOBILE]

He will be sorely missed as a beloved Redskin fan. As a person his death has forced me to reflect on him as a person from what I have grown to know of him as a fan of the team. He always played with passion and often wore his emotions on his sleeve but a very quiet reserve person towards the media and fans. Often would be the last person to sign autographs and always took the time to talk to that last kid just wanting to slap him a five. He was simply growing up in front of us as a player and a person like any other 24 year old.

I think the person or persons responsible for his death not only knew Sean but in fact targeted him. Someone out there knows the truth and it will eventually come out. When you attempt to make a change in your life sometimes old friends are left behind and jealously can ensue. I believe this was the case and those responsible wanted to hurt him in some way.

SEAN aka MEAST REST IN PEACE and may GOD use your blessing in heaven as we were able to enjoy them so briefly here on earth!

[SL-10]

Mourners gather to remember Sean Taylor

By MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press Writer Sun Dec 2, 8:26 PM ET

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071203/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_redskins_taylor_slain;_ylt=AkevjKBKLeGea2sOBSn pcZsLMxIF

MIAMI - Thousands of people paid their respects Sunday to Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor, as four young men sat in jail cells across the state charged with his killing.

At a wake in a small church here and at a vigil on the University of Miami campus where the athlete's skills made him an idol, Taylor was remembered by those who knew him since childhood and those who felt like they did.

Taylor's family gathered alone around his casket and left before the doors of Second Baptist Church opened to a line of hundreds of people stretching a block long. They departed in black limousines, SUVs and two buses.

Mourners filed through the church, pausing at the athlete's open casket, where he lay in a dark suit and white shirt with his arms by his side. Some made the sign of the cross, some sobbed, some walked silently as the choir sang. A police officer stood guard nearby.

One man erected a display in the parking lot in the athlete's honor with dozens of balloons, including those representing his jersey numbers in high school, college and professionally.

"I just wanted to do something," said James Lovett of Fort Lauderdale, who said he met Taylor when he was displaced from his home after Hurricane Andrew. "I just loved the kid, truly loved him."

Dozens of flower arrangements filled the church, including an orange and green U symbolizing the University of Miami and one in the shape of a badge for the Florida City Police, where Taylor's father is chief.

People came for many reasons. Some had met Taylor, many had not.

Dolores Brown mourned a man she called a son. Jeremiah Wedderburn spoke of Taylor's passion. And Josh Persad, a freshman at Miramar High School, came wearing a Taylor jersey.

"He's like my hero," Persad whispered.

Just southwest of here in Coral Gables, about 2,000 people gathered outside BankUnited Center at UM where Taylor's life was remembered in a somber ceremony. His No. 26 jersey from the school was framed, along with a photo of him in his Hurricanes uniform.

"Sean is with God now," his father, Pedro Taylor, said.

The mass of people held white candles toward the sky as a university band performed the alma mater. Some said they would emulate him, others said they would always remember him.

The remembrances Sunday came only hours after a fourth man charged in the shooting death of the 24-year-old Taylor appeared briefly in court and, like his co-defendants, was denied bond.

Jason Mitchell, 19, appeared via videoconference in a Fort Myers courtroom, about 100 miles from here. Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, he responded quietly when asked if he understood the charges. "He looks like he's in shock," said Sawyer Smith, one of his attorneys.

Three others — Eric Rivera, 17; Charles Wardlow, 18; and Venjah Hunte, 20 — made their first court appearance Saturday.

All four have been charged with unpremeditated murder, home invasion with a firearm or another deadly weapon and armed burglary. They will be transported to Miami, though authorities haven't said when.

Probable cause affidavits for Mitchell and Rivera obtained by the Associated Press said the two confessed to participating in armed burglary. According to the reports, Mitchell and Rivera admitted entering the home and said someone had a gun and shot Taylor, but they didn't identify who. Police and attorneys also have said some of the young men confessed, though they wouldn't elaborate.

Taylor died Tuesday, one day after being shot at his home in an affluent Miami suburb. Police said the suspects were looking for a simple burglary, but it turned bloody when they were startled to find Taylor home.

The suspects all have prior arrests, according to police, including drug, theft and gun charges, though friends and family have defended them.

Police remain tightlipped about how the suspects wound up at Taylor's home. But his former attorney Richard Sharpstein said Taylor's sister was dating a relative of Wardlow and that one or more people tied to the suspects may have attended her 21st birthday party at the athlete's home.

Miami-Dade police wouldn't confirm any of the possible links.

Early Monday, Taylor and his longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, were awakened by loud noises at his home and within moments he was shot. Neither the couple's 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, nor Garcia were injured, but the bullet hit the femoral artery in Taylor's leg, causing significant blood loss.

He never regained consciousness and died early Tuesday.

Authorities haven't said whether they've linked the suspects to a break-in at Taylor's home eight days before the shooting. In that incident, someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.

Sharpstein said Taylor's family was grateful for fast police work in the case, but that the arrests gave little comfort. Their mourning was set to continue Monday with a massive funeral at a Florida International University arena.