Four Arrested in Sean Taylor Break-in and Murder

Washington Redskins free safety Sean Taylor died on November 27 in a Miami hospital as the result of a gunshot wound acquired during an apparent home invasion the previous morning. Actor Andy Garcia acknowledged Sean Taylor's heroic actions in saving Andy Garcia's niece, Sean Taylor's girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, and Taylor and Garcia's daughter, also named Jackie.

Andy Garcia released a statement to the Miami Herald lauding Sean Taylor's actions when Sean Taylor sprang into action to protect his family, Jackie Garcia and their daughter Jackie Taylor, upon hearing noises made by the intruders as they were breaking into the Taylor home. "To those of us who had the good fortune to count him as a member of our extended family, we will always remember him as a caring and loving individual, especially to his new family, his precious daughter, Jackie, and to the love of his life and mother to his child, my niece Jacqueline," Andy Garcia's statement read.

Initial speculation suggested that the motive of the break-in was a revenge plot to get back at Sean Taylor for something. After an investigation and arrests of four suspects, however, Miami-Dade Police issued a statement refuting claims that the break-in was anything other than an attempt to burglarize Sean Taylor and Jackie Garcia's home.

Sean Taylor and girlfriend Jackie Garcia were sleeping, along with their 18-month-old daughter when the couple was awakened by the burglars. As Jackie Garcia and their daughter hid beneath the covers, Sean Taylor grabbed a machete for defense, but the intruders burst into the bedroom, firing two shots. One shot hit Sean Taylor in the groin, causing massive blood loss. Jackie Garcia called 911 from her cell phone, possibly causing a delay in the response time of authorities. Sean Taylor arrived at the hospital alive, and surgery was performed to repair his wounds, but Taylor's extensive blood loss proved to be too much, and he died the next morning.

At first, police had no suspects in the case, but a tip led them to arrest four suspects all between the ages of 17-20 years old. Arrested were Charles Wardlow, 18; Eric Rivera, 17; Venjah Hunte, 20; and Jason Mitchell, 17. Police have confessions from at least one of the suspects, but won't say who confessed and who didn't. Police have connected at least one of the suspects to Sean Taylor. The Miami Herald reported that Mitchell had attended a birthday party at Sean Taylor and Jackie Garcia's home recently and that Wardlow's cousin was dating Sean Taylor's sister. All four will be charged with murder.

References:
The Miami Herald - www.miamiherald.com
Reuters - http://today.reuters.com