Broncos players are mildly encouraged, if not yet relieved, by reports authorities believe all three men connected to the killing of Darrent Williams are in custody.
Jay Cutler knows from personal experience not to get carried away by Denver Post reports that police believe each of the three men who were in the white Chevrolet Tahoe used in the New Year’s Day shooting death of Williams has been jailed on unrelated federal drug charges.
The three suspects – Daniel Harris, 36; Vernon Edwards, 29; and Willie Clark, 24 – have not been charged in the shooting death of Williams, the Broncos’ starting cornerback who was slain just hours after his team’s 2006 season ended with an overtime loss at home to San Francisco.
Cutler had just finished his junior season at Vanderbilt when he learned his friend and teammate, running back Kwane Doster, was shot and killed in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 26, 2004. Although a shooting suspect, Rodney “Roscoe” Roman, was arrested in the Doster case, all charges against him were later dropped.
“It’s not over,” said Cutler, who decided to bypass the NFL draft and return for his senior year at Vandy in part because of the impact of Doster’s death. “They let Kwane’s guy go. It’s such a long process. You can’t get too excited. When they got Kwane’s guy, everyone got excited – and they let him go. You’d like to go and stop them both from happening, but it’s part of life.”
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan declined comment about the latest developments in the Williams case. Williams, 24, had just finished his second season as the Broncos’ starting right cornerback when he and several of his teammates attended a New Year’s Eve party at a downtown nightclub.
According to witnesses and police sources, an argument ensued outside the nightclub between two groups. Williams jumped into his limo, along with teammate Javon Walker and others. They were driven away from the club, only to be followed by the white SUV Tahoe, according to police.
As Williams’ limo approached the intersection of 11th and Speer, the Tahoe pulled up alongside and unloaded at least 14 shots. One bullet fatally wounded Williams in the neck. Two other limo passengers were wounded.
One way the Broncos will honor Williams and running back Damien Nash for the 2007 season is by wearing helmet decals carrying the numbers 27 and 29, respectively, of their late teammates. Nash died at 24 in February of apparent heart failure.
As the Broncos concluded their final offseason mini-camp Tuesday at Dove Valley, reaction was mixed to the revelation that police believe they have the three men from inside the Tahoe in the Williams case in custody.
“If there’s an indictment, a trial and a conviction, then you can feel a certain solace in that,” said fullback Kyle Johnson. “But the truth is, I don’t think it’s ever going to replace our personal loss. It was a horrendous crime that affected so many people. It took a dear friend of so many of us.”
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
