Taylor 

Safety Sean Taylor passed away early Tuesday at the age of 24 after being shot during a robbery in his home early Monday morning. The former first round pick was shot in the leg at his home in South Florida. Taylor was out of the University of Miami and was the Redskins first round draft pick in 2004. It is an awful turn of events for Taylor, who was reported by Fox Sports to have come out of a coma about 11pm last night, and was reportedly awake and responsive.

Taylor had suffered major blood loss, and it was not known if he was going to make it as reports continued throughout the day that he was in critical condition. Team owner Daniel Snyder had flown to Florida to be near the star athlete during this sensitive time. Taylor was at his home with his girlfriend and baby when the shooting took place. Taylor was in a coma and “flatlined” twice according to NFL Network. The incident at Taylor’s home took place at about 1:45am, and after Taylor was shot his girlfriend was unable to call police as phone lines to the home were cut.

Family friend Richard Sharpstein confirmed Taylor’s death on FoxSports.com. “His father called and said he was with Christ and he cried and thanked me,” said Sharpstein, Taylor’s former lawyer. “It’s a tremendously sad and unnecessary event. He was a wonderful, humble, talented young man, and had a huge life in front of him. Obviously God had other plans.” Sharpstein said the call came about 5:30 this morning. Doctors had been encouraged late Monday night when Taylor squeezed a nurse’s hand. But Sharpstein said he was told Taylor never regained consciousness after being transported to the hospital and that he wasn’t sure how he had squeezed the nurse’s hand.