Broncos CB Darrent Williams shot and killed

[Gary]

DENVER -- Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Denver early Monday morning, police said.

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.

Courtesy ESPN

IMO this is really sad, my sympathies go out to his friends and family.

[Sportsbuck]

I saw this on Sportscenter this morning.

How anyone could bring themselves to do this is beyond me.

[Loki]

This is very very sad and I too send my condolences out to his family as well as the other two victims. When's this kinda stuff gonna stop...



Gang-related?

[Terps]

This is pretty awful, RIP to him. ESPN.com seems to imply that it could be gang-related, but they're not sure yet.

[I am a huge CUNT]

Man this sucks. First my team gets eliminated from the playoffs and then someone shoots the guy that would have probably taken over for Bailey when he quit playing.

I was looking forward to this kids career. He seemed promising enough. This is truly a disgrace.

[D-Mac]

dude this sucks really really bad, i really liked Darrent Williams even tho he is a Bronco. RIP man.

[Joe Pa's Love Slave]

msuspartan2 said:

Man this sucks. First my team gets eliminated from the playoffs and then someone shoots the guy that would have probably taken over for Bailey when he quit playing.

I was looking forward to this kids career. He seemed promising enough. This is truly a disgrace.

Exactly what I would have said.

[Sportsbuck]

A man just died. I don't think this is the time to care about who is going to play opposite Champ Bailey.

[detroitbasketball]

sportsbuck2745 said:

A man just died. I don't think this is the time to care about who is going to play opposite Champ Bailey.

So true.

[I am a huge CUNT]

That's not what I meant. I meant that he had a promising career in front of him, which could lead him to be the next great Denver corner. That's why this is such a bad thing, he was a young kid and had a great life ahead but now it's cut short.

Do you honestly think I'm that heartless?

[Sportsbuck]

I know what you mean Spartan, I just didn't want this thread to go into that direction.

[I am a huge CUNT]

sportsbuck2745 said:

I know what you mean Spartan, I just didn't want this thread to go into that direction.

Okay just makin sure. Yeah, if I meant it like that, I would never have posted.

[bearcat]

Aside from team allegiances, this is a very sad story.

Oklahoma State's been hit hard the last few years. First Vernon Grant in a car accident, now this.

I feel really bad for the family.

[Leak2Troupe03]

This is very unfortunate because Darrent had a bright future in the NFL and in life ahead of him. I actually played Madden online today and I always use the Broncos when I play, and it felt really awkward when Williams would make a play of defense or return a punt.

R.I.P. Darrent Williams.

[SilverChaosVII]

I just heard this on TV... I didn't know about it until now...

He was a great player and probably a great person...

R.I.P.

[Freak93]

I couldn't beleive this when I heard it. Just a shock to hear. It is not even the loss to football, it is just sad when someone that young loses their life.

[wiskyisback]

Man I feel bad for this guy. He was a freakin speedster, good carrer ahead of him cut down....RIP

[I am a huge CUNT]

I guess he was a good kid, dad, and did a lot in the community.

[NoT25hAbY]

I dont care how good of a football player he was, if his friends, family, teamates and Mike Shannahan say he was a good man. I beleive them and respect him. He wasn't a thug, he wasn't running the streets, he kept care of his kids and the mother of his children.

He was a respectful person, and that's why I was more upset when I heard the news. At 24, your to young to die. Some of us are 24, going to be in a few years. It's disgraceful that someone can drive up and put bullets in your car like that.

I can only pray the cops get the right guy and he's never forgiven, because I dont think he should be. It's sick to think theres some thug guy out there watching this stuff on Sportscenter actually gloating that he put Darrent Williams in the dirt.

R.I.P. Darrent Williams

[Loki]

takeitback24 said:

I dont care how good of a football player he was, if his friends, family, teamates and Mike Shannahan say he was a good man. I beleive them and respect him. He wasn't a thug, he wasn't running the streets, he kept care of his kids and the mother of his children.

He was a respectful person, and that's why I was more upset when I heard the news. At 24, your to young to die. Some of us are 24, going to be in a few years. It's disgraceful that someone can drive up and put bullets in your car like that.

I can only pray the cops get the right guy and he's never forgiven, because I dont think he should be. It's sick to think theres some thug guy out there watching this stuff on Sportscenter actually gloating that he put Darrent Williams in the dirt.

R.I.P. Darrent Williams

Well put. It's something you have to wonder at first but from the sounds of it this KID was a great person, father, and friend. It was weird, when I heard this it struck me like a knife...I never feel that way from something about someone I don't know; it brought back a small bit of that feeling I got when I learned about my cousin. You never want someone like this to die especially this young. May he rest peacefully.