Tyrone Hartsfield was found guilty
Thursday of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of former
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier.
Collier was paralyzed from the waist down and had his left leg amputated after
being shot multiple times in September, 2008. Hartsfield was also found guilty
of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Collier was shot early on September 2 outside an apartment complex in
Jacksonville. The 28-year-old and his former Jaguars teammate Kenneth Pettway
had been out at clubs and were following two women they had met back to an
apartment complex to continue their evening together.
While the men waited in a Cadillac Escalade for the women to return from the
apartment, someone walked up and fired several times at Collier, who was
driving. Pettway was not injured.
Hartsfield denied the charges, saying that the wrong man was arrested. He
faces up to life in prison for the attempted murder conviction.
Collier spent three seasons in the NFL after attending Valdosta State. His
entire pro career was spent with the Jaguars, where he appeared in eight
games, including one start.
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