WOW.
Former teammate Rashaun Jones. Trying to remember - I thought his name did come up early on……
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Just crazy. I have no words.
Except I have a question cause I can’t remember?! Was he still on the team after the shooting took place?
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ESPN did a long piece on this just a couple years ago.
I remember how angry I was at Bryant Gumble. Pata’s body wasn’t even cold yet and he was insinuating that he was some kind of thug.
Did Gumble do that with Pata? I remember in 2007 that Wilbon did that with Sean Taylor completely unnecessarily even before realizing that kids broke into his home and shot him. Talk about jumping to conclusions. Didn’t know that about Gumble though in '06.
Yes. He is in the main photo media is using with the Pata painting. #38.
I’m just glad they caught somebody
Kinda sad and messed up it was his own teammate
Cane on Cane crime isn’t cool…at all
i remember his name coming up a few times back on ‘the lounge’ on the old scout.com site. i assumed most people suspected it was him
Yeah - Gumbel insinuated it.
Sounds like they have the same evidence they had 15 years ago.
Pata was murdered in 2006. Coker was still the HC back then.
Evidence seems entirely circumstantial save one witness. With a good lawyer, 50/50 chance he walks.
Certainly possible. So much time has passed……
He needs to hire this guy.
Apparently, the common GF was the motive?
The biggest piece of human garbage who made a comment about Pata was scumbag John Saunders . If memory serves me right …a midweek college game was on ESPN and there was breaking news that a Miami player had been seriously injured in an off-field incident. Saunders then condescendingly said …"when will they ever learn ?! "
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Cripes, WTF. He is in the picture #38
Brutal
Yeah. If he did it - thats F-ed up.
It will be interesting to read the indictment to see what evidence they have.
My understanding is there is no DNA, no gun, no witnesses to the crime itself.
There is reportedly someone who someone walking in the area of the crime scene. But, that was 15 years ago and the witness in now in his late 70’s. And Jones apparently lied to the cops claiming to be home that night when his cell activity suggests otherwise. As well, he had allegedly threatened to shoot Pata and others.
Unless he confessed to someone credible, it might be hard to convince an entire jury of his guilt based on the above … if that is all they have.
Pata seemed to have several ongoing disputes, had been engaged in fights, etc. Apparently, there are many alternative theories for his attorney to exploit.
Also, the fact the police waited 15 years to arrest him is rather telling that the DA didn’t believe they had enough to go to trial. So, unless they have significant new evidence, with a decent lawyer, I can see him walking. Doesn’t seem like a slam dunk case at all if that is all they have.
If he did it, I hope they nail his ass.
Time will tell.
Someone in the area happened to see someone running away from the scene - they gave a description and got a sketch.
Rashaun has long denied it - but his story isn’t adding up. And allegedly during one of his arguments with Pata he said something like “Well I guess you better clip up.”
We’ll see. Definitely a lot harder to prove something like this on circumstantial evidence.
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