Four arrested in shooting death of Taylor

[TheeBadOne]

Police say they have multiple confessions; stealing, not killing was intent


MIAMI - Police said the four people arrested Friday in the shooting death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor went to his home intent on stealing, not killing.
The suspects didn’t expect Taylor to be there, said Miami-Dade County police Director Robert Parker, but Taylor was recuperating from a knee injury and had returned home from Washington. When Taylor surprised them, he was shot.
“They were certainly not looking to go there and kill anyone,” Parker said. “They were expecting a residence that was not occupied. So murder or shooting someone was not their initial motive.”
Police spokeswoman Linda O’Brien identified the four suspects as: Venjah K. Hunte, 20; Eric Rivera Jr., 17; Jason Scott Mitchell, 19; and Charles Kendrick Lee Wardlow, 18. O’Brien said the charges for each had not yet been determined, but “we are talking murder and burglary.”
Authorities said they had more than one confession, but Parker would not elaborate.
The four were arrested Friday in southwest Florida, about 100 miles from Miami. They will be booked into the Lee County Jail and eventually will be returned to Miami, O’Brien said. She did not have any information on when they would appear in court, their hometowns or if they had attorneys.
Janelle Hall, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade County jail, said security reasons prevented her from releasing information regarding when the suspects would be transferred to Miami.
The 24-year-old Pro Bowl safety died Tuesday, one day after being shot at his home in an affluent Miami suburb during what officials said appeared to be an attempted burglary.
Police have been investigating a possible link to a Nov. 17 break-in at Taylor’s home, during which they said someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.
“We’re looking into whether or not one or more of the individuals had been at the residence before,” Parker said.
Family friend Richard Sharpstein said at least one of the suspects was at Taylor’s house when his sister recently had a party, but that Taylor did not know the men.
“It’s a burglary, and they targeted him for his wealth,” said Sharpstein, who’s Taylor’s former attorney. “It makes his death even more pathetic, unnecessary and just actually disgusting.”
Sharpstein had not spoken with Taylor’s family regarding the arrests, but said he doubted it provided any comfort.
“I know they are just saddened and appalled. The fact that they arrested his killer is no comfort to them,” he said. “It probably inflames them more, because it tells them people were trying to steal from him.
“They are murderers. They should be treated like murderers and put in the Miami River and floated away.”
The Miami Herald reported on its Web site that Mitchell and Wardlow had connections to Taylor. Mitchell cut Taylor’s lawn and did other chores at the house, Mitchell’s twin brother, Scottie, told the paper. Taylor’s sister, Sasha Johnson, dates Wardlow’s older cousin Christopher, and Scottie Mitchell told the paper the couple invited Jason Mitchell to Johnson’s birthday party within the past two months.
A woman who identified herself as Jason Mitchell’s mother told the Naples Daily News her son was at a birthday party at Sean Taylor’s home a couple months ago. She also said her son was at home all week and last weekend.
“I don’t know where he’s at, I don’t know why he’s being held,” she told the Naples paper. “No parent should see this happen to their child.”
O’Brien would not confirm the reports when contacted by The Associated Press.
Taylor and longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, were awakened early Monday by loud noises at Taylor’s home in an affluent Miami suburb. Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection, Sharpstein said. Someone broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor in the upper leg. Neither the couple’s 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, nor Garcia were injured.
The bullet damaged the femoral artery in Taylor’s leg, causing significant blood loss. Taylor never regained consciousness and died a little more than 24 hours later.
A public viewing for Taylor is scheduled Sunday in Miami, and the entire Redskins organization plans to fly to Florida to attend Monday’s funeral at Pharmed Arena at Florida International University.
The Redskins also announced that fans attending Sunday’s game will receive a towel with Taylor’s No.21 jersey on it, and his name will be displayed prominently in one end zone.
Redskins owner Dan Snyder said the team will contribute a minimum of $500,000 to a fund to benefit Taylor’s daughter, and he released a statement late Friday acknowledging the arrests.
“This is another step, but not a conclusion, in a very personal and painful tragedy,” he said. “I also want to thank everyone who has joined us in mourning the loss of Sean. People from all over the world contacted the Redskins to share our grief and offer their prayers for Sean and his family. We will never forget the courage his family, especially Jackie, Pete and Donna, have shown. Their composure has been a source of strength for us all.”

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[Star Man]

“It’s a burglary, and they targeted him for his wealth,” said Sharpstein, who’s Taylor’s former attorney. “It makes his death even more pathetic, unnecessary and just actually disgusting.”

Why does it make his death more pathetic unnecessary and disgusting? Because he was wealthy and should have different safety zones than less wealthy people? Is it no big deal if a poor schlep that works his ass off every day and lives paycheck to paycheck is killed? Sharpstein is a moron. All he is worried about is that his golden nugget client who was going to get in trouble again will not be on retainer anymore. Time to hook up with another gun toting criminal sports figure Mr Sharpstein........

Redskins owner Dan Snyder said the team will contribute a minimum of $500,000 to a fund to benefit Taylor’s daughter

That's all fine and dandy, but didn't they already say he was targeted for his wealth? How about funding the college education of a slain police officer's children in the great DC area the team is based in,,, or in the SW FL area where several Deputies have died in the last few weeks.... That $500K comes out of those outrageously high ticket prices that sports games charge nowadays.

[dogbite1]

I agree with Star Man,
Sports figures, Actors, Oil and Insurance excs and the like are way over paid. (But that is another soap box) If what the good attorney said is correct, (Taylor was targeted for his wealth) then what about the other people who's house/car/boat, etc gets burglarized? Are they not being targeted for their wealth??????? or is it the lack there of?

But again those who are the victim of a burglaries are most often then not the working people. There 2 things in life you can not fix, stupid and attorneys.

I just had to put my 2 cents in on this topic.

[gozling]

the asshole on the far left --- i have arrested him before for prior burglaries... good thing he was locked up huh???? i should explain.. it was my squad that caught him prior on a perimeter of a burglary in progress un occupied....

fucking justice system

[dogbite1]

the asshole on the far left --- i have arrested him before for prior burglaries... good thing he was locked up huh???? i should explain.. it was my squad that caught him prior on a perimeter of a burglary in progress un occupied....

fucking justice system

Don't you just love the South Florida justice system. Remember how the killer of Carla Brucia in Sarasota was out on probation when he committed the murder.

[gozling]

Don't you just love the South Florida justice system. Remember how the killer of Carla Brucia in Sarasota was out on probation when he committed the murder.

it is so very frustrating....
the worst is going to a burglary in progress, to get there and find out its not lived in and to get the subjects etc... and its dropped to a misdemeanor trespass...
that is what sucks.
oh just because this asshole was stupid and picked a house that had nothing in it to steal... well except for the appliances he wasn't in the process of a burglary... enters or remains with the intent to commit an offense...wtf?

oh yeah right, my bad, they just wanted to open up a new crack house...

[adroitcuffs]

Don't you just love the South Florida justice system. Remember how the killer of Carla Brucia in Sarasota was out on probation when he committed the murder.

Trust me, it's not just the Florida justice system. I'm a firm believer that if the system actually held people accountable for the crimes they commit, they'd have less time in the outside world to create more victims. The county I work in seems to very often give a sentence of "180 days to be served on weekends" for an awful lot of crimes, including domestic violence and robbery. Two people who aided in the planning and getaway on a casino robbery took a guilty plea for 180 days "because they cooperated with the investigation and gave most of their share of the money back." Absolutely disgusting...

[TheeBadOne]

Lawyer: Suspects Charged in Sean Taylor Murder 'Terrified'


MIAMI —



Four young men charged with unpremeditated murder in the shooting death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor have not been strangers to police. Still, nothing came close to what they faced Saturday. Eric Rivera, 17; Charles Wardlow, 18; Jason Mitchell, 19; and Venjah Hunte, 20, were charged with Taylor's slaying, home invasion with a firearm or another deadly weapon and armed burglary. Police said the suspects were looking for a simple burglary, but it turned bloody when they were startled to find Taylor home.
"They're terrified," said Sawyer Smith, who along with his father, Wilbur, represent Rivera and Mitchell. "These are young boys who are absolutely terrified about the position in which they find themselves."
Police and attorneys for two suspects have said some of the young men confessed, though they wouldn't elaborate. All were arrested Friday in southwest Florida, about 100 miles from here, and all but Mitchell had their first court appearance Saturday and were denied bond. Mitchell was expected to have a hearing at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
Taylor, the 24-year-old Pro Bowl safety, died Tuesday, one day after being shot at his home in an affluent Miami suburb.
"It's more than greed. Greed is one thing," said Richard Sharpstein, Taylor's former attorney. "They're looking for a quick hit, a couple of thousand bucks here, a couple of thousand there. And for what?"
John Evans, the attorney representing Wardlow, said it's likely all four suspects will be transported to Miami on Sunday. He said his client was reflecting on the gravity of the charges he faces.
"My client has not, I don't think, come to terms with what is being alleged," Evans said. "He's in a position, dressed in the orange jumpsuit over there in the county jail, thinking about his life and thinking about his future. You can only imagine the things going through his mind now."
Wilbur Smith told The News-Press of Fort Myers that because of the confessions, he expects the case to be resolved quickly.
The suspects all have prior arrests, according to Lee County Sheriff's Office records.
Wardlow was arrested twice for selling marijuana and once for grand theft of a vehicle, and Hunte was arrested previously this year on drug and trespassing charges.
Mitchell has been arrested twice, most recently in October on charges of driving with a suspended license and violation of probation. Rivera was arrested in October for trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, and he previously was behind bars for altering the identification number on a firearm.
On Rivera's MySpace page, he posed for pictures lying in bed with $100 bills strewn atop him and fanning a wad of cash in front of his face. The page is wallpapered with images of money, the text atop it green. The 17-year-old sandwiches his alias, Mr. Florida, between dollar signs and lists counting money among his interests.
Rivera last logged onto his MySpace page sometime Friday, when he rated his mood with an off-color word for angry.
Sharpstein said he had spoken with Taylor's father since the arrests. Though the family was appreciative police had worked so effectively, he said the news provided little relief. A massive public viewing was planned for Sunday in Miami, with the funeral the following day.
"The arrest of Sean's killer provides no comfort or solace to Sean's family," Sharpstein said. "They are grieving and haven't buried their son, boyfriend and father yet."
Early Monday, Taylor and his longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, were awakened by loud noises at his home. He grabbed a machete for protection, but within moments, someone broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one hitting Taylor in the upper leg.
Neither the couple's 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, nor Garcia were injured.
The bullet damaged the femoral artery in Taylor's leg, causing significant blood loss. He never regained consciousness and died early Tuesday.
Police remain tightlipped about how the suspects wound up at Taylor's home. The Miami Herald reported Mitchell cut the player's lawn and did other chores at the house and that Taylor's sister Sasha dates Wardlow's cousin. The Naples Daily News quoted a woman who identified herself as Jason Mitchell's mother as saying her son was at a birthday party at Taylor's home within the past two months.
Sharpstein said Taylor's sister had a 21st birthday party at her brother's home on Thanksgiving weekend.
In Fort Myers, a woman who identified herself as Wardlow's grandmother but declined to give her name defended the accused. "He's a sweet young man," she said. "I love him to death, and that's it."
Bennie Williams, a neighbor to Wardlow's cousin, said he had seen Taylor's sister Sasha in the area recently.
"She was here all last week for the holidays," he said.
Miami-Dade police wouldn't confirm any of the possible links.
Authorities also 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.
Police say they're sure, however, that the four suspects didn't expect to kill anyone.
"They were expecting a residence that was not occupied," Miami-Dade County police Director Robert Parker said. "So murder or shooting someone was not their initial motive."
Money, police said, was.
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F these scumbags!

[Star Man]

They should be terrified! They killed someone, whether it was random or not they killed someone in the commission of a felony. Lock tose fucking scumbags up and weld the door shut after you throw away the key!

[gozling]

oh come on guys.. you are just too mean...
i mean really...

they didnt mean to shoot him so lets just let them be. makes perfect sense to me...

they are all such good boys and help their mommas out from time to time bringin in the crack cash.....they are products of society and well... they just are not responsible

didnt you know that?


(and if you believe any of this above you are a newbie and read it wrong)

[hush29]

The suspects didn’t expect Taylor to be there, said Miami-Dade County police Director Robert Parker, but Taylor was recuperating from a knee injury and had returned home from Washington.

Guess they should've watched ESPN, huh?