Prep star shot dead in Georgia
A Georgia high school football star who had been signed to play at Vanderbilt University was shot to death yesterday by his mother's ex-boyfriend, police said.
A Georgia high school football star who had been signed to play at Vanderbilt University was shot to death yesterday by his mother's ex-boyfriend, police said.
Officers heard gunshots as they arrived at the home where Rajaan Bennett, 18, lived with his mother, Powder Springs (Ga.) Lt. Matt Boyd said. Inside they found Bennett, a running back at McEachern High School, dead of a gunshot wound.
Boyd said Clifton Steger, 39, of Milledgeville, shot Bennett and then killed himself. Bennett's uncle, Taiwan Hunter, 32, was wounded and was in critical condition yesterday. It was not clear what prompted the shooting.
"Rajaan was an extraordinary young man and an ideal fit for Vanderbilt University," Vanderbilt football coach Bobby Johnson said in a statement. "Initially, our thoughts and prayers are with his mother Narjaketha and family members. I know he meant so much to them."
In other college football news:
* Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn is expected to plead guilty in an assault case, when he allegedly punched a cab driver for honking at him in Iowa City. In other Hawkeyes news, running back Jeff Brinson has decided to leave the team and transfer to a school closer to his home in St. Petersburg, Fla.
* Running back Glenn Winston, who was dismissed from the Michigan State football team following a November dormitory brawl, has pleaded guilty to charges of misdemeanor assault and conspiracy to assault.
Pro Football
* The labor fight between the NFL and the Vikings' Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, who challenged their drug-related suspensions, will go to trial next month in Minneapolis. The Williamses - who are not related - were suspended for four games after testing positive in 2008 for the banned substance bumetanide, which can mask steroids.
* Buffalo wide receiver Terrell Owens, Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers and New Orleans safety Darren Sharper are among 235 NFL players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next month.
* Buffalo starting right tackle Brad Butler announced his retirement. The news comes as a surprise to the Bills as the 26-year-old Butler had just completed his fourth NFL season.
Sport Stops
* Daytona International Speedway began repairs to the damaged portion of Turn 2 that forced two delays during Sunday's Daytona 500 totaling more than 2 hours.