Football Jacksonville Jaguars Player Loses Leg, Paralyzed Below Waist After Shooting

**Lzen** · 09-30-2008, 03:12 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars Player Loses Leg, Paralyzed Below Waist After Shooting

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

AP

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier, shot earlier this month, is paralyzed below the waist and had his left leg amputated.

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.
The 26-year-old 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.
Jankovich refused to say when Collier would be released, citing security concerns.
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."
Offensive tackle Tony Pashos said, "It has been difficult. I think about him a lot."
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. Police have made no arrests in the shooting.
Collier was in his third year with the NFL after graduating from Valdosta State.
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 Darrent Williams was killed when his rented limousine was sprayed with bullets minutes after leaving a New Year's party at a club in 2007.

el borracho · 09-30-2008, 06:59 PM

ugh. I heard about this on the Dan Patrick show. It is too effed up to even think about and I can't imagine anything that could make it better. Just effing terrible.

bishop_74 · 09-30-2008, 07:37 PM

Poor dude has to be devastated. I feel for him and his family.

**SAUTO** · 09-30-2008, 07:40 PM

terrible terrible situation. but the guy can be thankful that after 14 bullets he's still alive

StcChief · 09-30-2008, 07:42 PM

Tough break. Putting yourself in a situation like that is what leads to this.....

hope other players learn from it.

Hydrae · 09-30-2008, 07:42 PM

14 bullets into one guy and the other guy in the vehicle wasn't touched? I guess that is why they are thinking he was targeted.

Pretty screwed up for this to happen to anyone, that's for sure. Hopefully he can find a way to get beyond this and find joy in his life again.

**pr_capone** · 09-30-2008, 07:42 PM

We should take a look at him... he would still be better than DaMac AND he is only 26

fits right into the youth movement!

bishop_74 · 09-30-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StcChief

Tough break. Putting yourself in a situation like that is what leads to this.....

hope other players learn from it.

What was the situation? It just says he was waiting on some girls outside of an apartment.

**Bugeater** · 09-30-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bishop_74

What was the situation? It just says he was waiting on some girls outside of an apartment.

Obviously he was into something bad for someone to shoot him 14 times.

kstater · 09-30-2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Obviously he was into something bad for someone to shoot him 14 times.

Nah, completely random shooting at an apartment complex.

Marcellus · 09-30-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kstater

Nah, completely random shooting at an apartment complex.

Actually they said they had reason to believe he was targeted.

Spott · 09-30-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StcChief

Tough break. Putting yourself in a situation like that is what leads to this.....

hope other players learn from it.

Actually, he was at a pretty upscale club in the San Marco area of Jacksonville before he got shot. I have been there a few times and it is a very nice club/restaurant located around a lot of very nice waterfront homes. It is definitely not a place where anyone would expect to run into a bunch of gangster/thug types at.

Demonpenz · 09-30-2008, 08:45 PM

It's not surprising. You would think those rookie classes would do something with the people getting shot like this, but I have no doubt he was out "making it rain"

FAX · 09-30-2008, 08:57 PM

Damn. Unimaginable. Just horrible.

There are just too many NFL guys either getting shot or getting in shootouts. From Ray Ray to Pack'inHeatMan to Darrent Williams and this kid, it's out of control. I don't know what, if anything, the NFL can do about it, though. I wonder sometimes if the homeboys just get jealous after these kids make it to the show and things just spiral downward from there.

FAX

Spott · 09-30-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

It's not surprising. You would think those rookie classes would do something with the people getting shot like this, but I have no doubt he was out "making it rain"

He was not at a strip club.

09-30-2008, 03:12 PM
Lzen Supporter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Jan Quadrant Vincent 16 Casino cash: $2220692	Jacksonville Jaguars Player Loses Leg, Paralyzed Below Waist After Shooting Jacksonville Jaguars Player Loses Leg, Paralyzed Below Waist After Shooting Tuesday, September 30, 2008 AP JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier, shot earlier this month, is paralyzed below the waist and had his left leg amputated. 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. The 26-year-old 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. Jankovich refused to say when Collier would be released, citing security concerns. 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." Offensive tackle Tony Pashos said, "It has been difficult. I think about him a lot." 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. Police have made no arrests in the shooting. Collier was in his third year with the NFL after graduating from Valdosta State. 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 Darrent Williams was killed when his rented limousine was sprayed with bullets minutes after leaving a New Year's party at a club in 2007.
Posts: 41,346

09-30-2008, 06:59 PM	#2
el borracho In Pat We Trust Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Albuquerque, NM Casino cash: $6369148	ugh. I heard about this on the Dan Patrick show. It is too effed up to even think about and I can't imagine anything that could make it better. Just effing terrible.
Posts: 11,826

09-30-2008, 07:37 PM	#3
bishop_74 Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Denver, CO. USA Casino cash: $8674993	Poor dude has to be devastated. I feel for him and his family.
Posts: 3,642

09-30-2008, 07:40 PM	#4
SAUTO Shit Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10039067	terrible terrible situation. but the guy can be thankful that after 14 bullets he's still alive
Posts: 55,715

09-30-2008, 07:42 PM	#5
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	Tough break. Putting yourself in a situation like that is what leads to this..... hope other players learn from it. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
Posts: 25,901

09-30-2008, 07:42 PM	#6
Hydrae Sandbox: Leander Lasercats Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Austin, Tx Casino cash: $2317000	14 bullets into one guy and the other guy in the vehicle wasn't touched? I guess that is why they are thinking he was targeted. Pretty screwed up for this to happen to anyone, that's for sure. Hopefully he can find a way to get beyond this and find joy in his life again.
Posts: 14,686

09-30-2008, 07:42 PM	#7
pr_capone ** SOC & ** YOU Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chiefs Hell Casino cash: $10018214	We should take a look at him... he would still be better than DaMac AND he is only 26 fits right into the youth movement!
Posts: 19,884

09-30-2008, 08:45 PM	#13
Demonpenz I got Rice cookin in the micro Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $3112136	It's not surprising. You would think those rookie classes would do something with the people getting shot like this, but I have no doubt he was out "making it rain" __________________
Posts: 54,273

09-30-2008, 08:57 PM	#14
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	Damn. Unimaginable. Just horrible. There are just too many NFL guys either getting shot or getting in shootouts. From Ray Ray to Pack'inHeatMan to Darrent Williams and this kid, it's out of control. I don't know what, if anything, the NFL can do about it, though. I wonder sometimes if the homeboys just get jealous after these kids make it to the show and things just spiral downward from there. FAX
Posts: 44,492