3 Held In Sean Taylor Killing

[GreenBat]

By JESSICA GRESKO, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 42 minutes ago

MIAMI - Police have detained at least three people in the Fort Myers area for questioning in the death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.

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A law enforcement official in Lee County confirmed the men from the Fort Myers area were in custody, but requested anonymity because the investigation is being handled by Miami-Dade County police.

Miami-Dade police would not confirm if anyone was in custody for the shooting death of Taylor, who was attacked at his Miami area home Monday and died a day later. Police only said detectives were in the Fort Myers area for an unspecified case.

"Our detectives are out there in Fort Myers conducting an investigation, gathering information and at this particular time they are not comfortable releasing any information regarding their investigation," police spokesman Robert Williams said. "As soon as information develops that will not jeopardize their case, they will release information."

The Miami Herald, which first reported the development on its Web site, said investigators believe the suspects learned of Taylor's house through someone who unwittingly set up the burglary by bragging about his wealth. The suspects include two teenagers and a man in his 20s, all from the Fort Myers area, the paper reported.

A telephone message left at the Florida City Police Department for the slain safety's father, Chief Pedro Taylor, was not immediately returned.

Richard Sharpstein, a former Taylor lawyer and family friend, confirmed the law enforcement report.

"It's my understanding that three individuals are in custody. A house is being searched," Sharpstein said, without disclosing who had given him the information.

He repeated previous statements that the burglary did not appear to be random and that the 24-year-old's house had been targeted.

Taylor's teammates and friends were measured in responding to this latest development.

"I can't get excited or get my hopes up hoping these are the guys until we know for sure," said running back Clinton Portis. "Everybody wants to know why. It's still not gonna bring back Sean. It will still take a great guy away from the world."

Said receiver Santana Moss: "If those are the guys, I just hope that they'll just be dealt with properly. I feel there's nothing much I can say about it. It's no anger I can express to them. What's done is done."

Evidence at Taylor's home indicated one or more intruders barged into the house early Monday in an attempted burglary, Miami-Dade police director Robert Parker said Wednesday.

Taylor and longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, were awakened by loud noises at Taylor's home in an affluent Miami suburb, Sharpstein has 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 in the attack.

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.