Only In America. SuperStar killed at home

Four arrested in Taylor case; police anticipate \'murder, burglary\' charges
ESPN.com news services

Updated: November 30, 2007, 9:58 PM ET
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MIAMI -- The Miami-Dade Police Department arrested four people Friday in connection with the shooting death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.

Police spokeswoman Linda O\'Brien identified the men as: Venjah K. Hunte, 20; Eric Rivera Jr., 17; Jason Scott Mitchell, 17; 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.

The four men 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, she said. O\'Brien did not have any information on when they would appear in court or if they had attorneys.

Taylor 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. The suspects weren\'t expecting Taylor to be home, police director Robert Parker said, but Taylor was recuperating from a knee injury and had returned to Miami from Washington.

They were certainly not looking to go there and kill anyone, Parker said. He added authorities had more than one confession but would not elaborate.

We\'re looking into whether or not one or more of the individuals had been at the residence before, Parker said.

The Miami Herald reported investigators believe the men learned about Taylor\'s house through someone who unwittingly set up the burglary by bragging about Taylor\'s wealth.

This is another step, but not a conclusion, in a very personal and painful tragedy, Redskins owner Dan Snyder said in a statement. The police have done a wonderful and professional job in quickly making arrests. I thank them for keeping us informed and involved from the very beginning.

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.

Taylor and longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, were awakened early Monday by loud noises at Taylor\'s home, family friend Richard Sharpstein said. Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection, Sharpstein said, then 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.

Jackie Garcia has declined to speak to the media, but her uncle, actor Andy Garcia, commended Taylor.

\'\'His heroic action on that tragic night saved their life and is a testament to his humanity and courage,\'\' Garcia said in his statement obtained by the Herald. His spirit will live forever, in our hearts and through the legacy of his achievements and the family he leaves behind.

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 the team\'s Sunday game will receive a towel with Taylor\'s No. 21 jersey on it and that his name will be displayed prominently in one of the end zones. Snyder said in a statement the team will contribute a minimum of $500,000 to a fund to benefit Taylor\'s daughter.