:Quarterback Steve McNair Is Shot to Death
Steve McNair, the former N.F.L. quarterback who shared the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2003, was found shot to death Saturday, the Nashville police said.
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McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, a 20-year-old friend, were found dead with gunshot wounds Saturday afternoon in a condominium in downtown Nashville, the police said. McNair had multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head, and Kazemi was found with a single gunshot wound to the head, the police said.
Don Aaron, a police spokesman, said that the deaths had not been classified as a double homicide or a murder-suicide. Both bodies were found in the living room of the condominium, Aaron said, with McNair on a sofa and Kazemi on the floor close to him. A pistol was found near Kazemi at the scene, Aaron said. Autopsies were to be performed Sunday morning. Aaron said a classification of the deaths would be made after the autopsies and forensic testing.
“While we may be leaning certain ways based on evidence at the scene and wounds on the bodies, we have not ruled anything out,” Aaron said.
Aaron did not indicate what the police thought the classification of the deaths might be. He added that the police were not actively searching for a suspect as of Saturday night.
A witness told the police that McNair entered the condominium, which he rented, between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. Saturday. The witness also said that Kazemi’s 2007 Cadillac Escalade, which was registered to her and McNair, was at the condominium when McNair arrived. Aaron said he did not know if McNair and Kazemi, a resident of Nashville, were together earlier that night.
Kazemi and McNair were together when she was arrested and charged with driving under the influence in her Escalade early Thursday morning, the police said. McNair was riding in the car but was not charged.
On Saturday, Wayne Neeley, a friend of McNair’s who co-rented the condominium with him, entered it just before 1 p.m. He found McNair on a sofa and Kazemi on the floor in the living room, the police said. At first, Neeley did not notice they were dead, but then he found blood near the bodies. He called Robert Gaddy, another friend of McNair’s, and Gaddy called the police.
McNair played for the Tennessee Titans for 11 years, taking them within inches of overtime against the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl after the 1999 season. He retired before the 2008 season after playing for two years in Baltimore. In his 13-year career, he established himself as one of the best quarterbacks of his era and earned the nickname Air McNair.
“The N.F.L. has lost a brother, and I believe black quarterbacks have lost a pioneer,” said Jets linebacker Bart Scott, who played with McNair in Baltimore.
The Houston Oilers, who later moved to Tennessee, drafted McNair with the third overall pick in 1995 out of Alcorn State, a historically black college where McNair first displayed his dazzling ability to scramble or throw — and a toughness that pushed him to play through numerous injuries. Other players marveled at his grittiness, and in 1999 he returned from early-season back surgery to take the Titans to the Super Bowl.
“He was the heart and soul of our team,” his former teammate Eddie George told ESPN.
The greatest stretch of McNair’s career might have occurred near the end of the 2002 season, when McNair had so many injuries he could not practice for two months. He led the Titans to five straight victories to finish the regular season before they lost in the American Football Conference championship game.
In 2003, McNair was charged with drunken driving and possession of a handgun. Those charges were dismissed. In 2007, McNair was charged with driving under the influence in Tennessee; the police said he had allowed his vehicle to be operated by someone who was driving under the influence of alcohol. His brother-in-law was driving the vehicle, and he pleaded guilty to reckless driving. The charge against McNair was dropped.
McNair was a gifted athlete in his hometown, Mount Olive, Miss. He was even drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 35th round of the 1991 baseball draft. Bigger colleges recruited him, but they wanted him to play defensive back. As a college sophomore, he led the nation in total offense, averaging more than 400 yards a game and displaying the ability to play through injuries. As a senior, he gained nearly 6,000 yards rushing and passing, along with 53 touchdowns, and finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
“Steve was special and as tough and competitive of a guy that I have ever been around,” Jets Coach Rex Ryan, who was an assistant with the Ravens from 1999 to 2008, said in a statement on the Jets’ Web site. “As soon as we got him in Baltimore, he gave our team instant confidence, and I was fortunate to be around him for two seasons.”
McNair was a genial locker-room presence. He was embraced by the Ravens in part because of his close friendship with linebacker Ray Lewis, who was said to be having a difficult time dealing with McNair’s death Saturday night. Ravens receiver Derrick Mason called McNair “Smile” and said their families were close. McNair and his wife, Mechelle, had four sons.
“I’ve known him for 13 years, and he was the most selfless, happiest and friendliest person I have known,” Mason said. “On the field, there isn’t a player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position. What I have seen him play through on the field, and what he dealt with during the week to get ready for a game, I have never known a better teammate.”
Scott had his first career interception off a McNair pass in 2002. When McNair joined the Ravens, Scott said McNair signed the ball for him.
“Me personally, I’m not a guy who’s like a big fan of football players; it’s not my personality,” Scott said. “But I tell you one thing: Steve McNair’s Tennessee Titans jersey sits down in my basement. I’m not a fan of players, I’m a fan of people. And I was a fan of Steve McNair the person.”
McNair was an anomaly when he came to the N.F.L., displaying a penchant for running that later became a trademark of Michael Vick’s. McNair combined his running ability with a booming arm that earned him his nickname.
McNair went to the Pro Bowl three times. In his M.V.P. season, when he shared the award with Peyton Manning, McNair threw 24 touchdown passes.
“He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans,” Bud Adams Jr., the Titans’ owner, said in a statement. “He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl.”Wikipedia:
Steve LaTreal McNair (February 14, 1973 – July 4, 2009),[1] nicknamed Air McNair, was an American football quarterback, best known for his years with the Tennessee Titans.
McNair played college football at Alcorn State, where he won the 1994 Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA. He was drafted third overall by the NFL's Houston Oilers in 1995. He became the Oilers' starting quarterback in 1997, their last season in Houston, and remained the starting quarterback for the Titans during their first eight years in Tennessee. After the 2005 season, McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, with whom he played for two seasons before retiring.
McNair led the Titans to the playoffs four times, and the Ravens once, and played in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Titans. McNair was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, and was All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003.[2]
On July 4, 2009, McNair and a woman were discovered shot dead; the investigation is ongoing as of July 5, although McNair's death has been ruled a murder
Death
On July 4, 2009, McNair was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head,[3][17][18] along with a female victim, 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, who was found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head, in a condominium in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.[14] The Nashville police declared McNair's death a homicide on July 5, but did not reach a conclusion about the death of Kazemi.[19]
Police have not yet made a statement as to who is suspected of the killings,[3]. Initial media reports erroneously indicated McNair's was a murder-suicide.[20][21] Police were not seeking any suspects in either death.[14]
Two days before their deaths, Kazemi was pulled over in a black 2007 Cadillac Escalade in Nashville with McNair in the passenger seat. The vehicle was registered to both McNair and Kazemi. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.[14] McNair was not arrested and instead allowed to leave in a taxi.[3]
Titans owner Bud Adams released a statement regarding McNair:[22]
| “ | We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's [death] today. He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing. | ” |
In a statement to the AP, Ozzie Newsome, executive vice president and general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, stated:[3][23]
| “ | This is so, so sad. We immediately think of his family, his boys. They are all in our thoughts and prayers. What we admired most about Steve when we played against him was his competitive spirit, and we were lucky enough to have that with us for two years. He is one of the best players in the NFL over the last 20 years... |
Steve McNair Found Dead
Posted:
July 4, 2009 02:07 PM CST NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Former Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been killed. Police said McNair suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville.
The incident happened near 2nd Avenue South & Lea Avenue in a residence Steve McNair was renting.
The call came into police at 1:35 p.m. A crowd began to gather in the area where Steve McNair's body was found Saturday afternoon.
"When police officers arrived in response to that call, they found two individuals who had been shot to death inside the residence: one female, one male. We now know that the male deceased is Steve McNair. The female deceased has been tentatively identified. We're working to confirm that and then notify her next of kin," said Don Aaron with Metro Police on the situation.
Don Aaron with Metro Police On Steve McNair's Death
According to police, there were no signs of forced entry at the crime scene. While the female victim's identity has not been released, police are confirming she is not Mechelle McNair.
"There were persons who were around the complex today who have been taken to headquarters for questioning," Don Aaron explained. However, he made it clear that there were no suspects in custody at the time.
According to Don Aaron, no suspects have been taken into custody. Several people were being taken to police headquarters for questioning, so police could get information about the circumstances surrounding the shooting deaths.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean issued this statement:
Nashville will always be grateful to Steve McNair for his talent, his leadership and most of all his courage. His selfless style of play endeared him to the fans of Nashville and all of Tennessee. His leadership of the Super Bowl team of 1999 will always have a distinctive place in Nashville sports history. Steve and his family are in our hearts and prayers.
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen released the following statement:
Andrea and I were very saddened by the news of Steve McNair's death. He has always felt like part of the Nashville family, and he will be sorely missed.
Several fans expressed shock and saddness in response to the news along with former teamates and other members of the Titans organization.
Many people commented on how Steve was such an important part of the community. Steve McNair opened a restaurant, Gridiron 9 on Jefferson Street in North Nashville. An employee at McNair's restaurant said Steve McNair gave him hope. He said when no one else gave him a chance, Steve hired him immediately.
Titans' owner ‘Bud' Adams Jr. released the following statement on the Titan's web site:
"We are saddened and shocked to hear the news of Steve McNair's passing today. He was one of the finest players to play for our organization and one of the most beloved players by our fans. He played with unquestioned heart and leadership and led us to places that we had never reached, including our only Super Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they deal with his untimely passing."
Share your thoughts about the sudden passing of Steve McNair.
Hope Hines, NewsChannel 5's Chief Sports Reporter said Brad Hopkins, former All Pro Left Tackle, was very upset by the death of Steve McNair. He said he was dissapointed, and doesn't understand how people can take lives so violently.
Hopkins said this is an example of how no one is immune to violence.
"Steve was my friend, and that's the difference. I remember his first five minutes in the facility. Every walk he took, I was probably right next to him. We fought and bled together," said Hopkins. "Here's a man who was husband and a father. He meant a lot to a lot of people. Not just people on the football field," Hopkins continued.
Jeff Diamond, former President of the Titans commented on Steve McNair's death:
"First of all it's such a tragic, tragic thing. You just hate to see these things happen, and to happen to someone you like and respect and knew so well and had so many great times and moments with; it's a horrible, horrible story."
Steve McNair was 36 years old. He leaves behind a wife Mechelle and four sons: Junior, Steven, Tyler and Trenton.
The family released this statement Saturday evening:
The families of Steve McNair in Mississippi and Tennessee appreciate the concern, thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of our loss of a husband, father and son. The family requests everyone would allow them time to mourn. The McNair Family appreciates and continues to request your prayers at this time.
Sahel Kazemi in a Bikini (Photos) and Steve McNair Play Without Wife Mechelle McNair
By Tina SimsJul 5, 2009
Steve McNair and his young 'friend' Sahel Kazemi certainly had some happy days. The two are pictured enjoying a little bit of fun in the sun (without wife Mechelle McNair, at least she is not shown in the photos) as she is in her bikini and the two have on their life jackets as they seem to be enjoying some time on the boat.
Sahel Kazemi and Steve McNair (Image Credit: TMZ.Com)According to a report from AOL's TMZ.Com, the website has located the pictures of the pair. An update is in from the newsroom as well, "Detectives for the Nashville PD say they've been told McNair and Kazemi" were dating for months.
***More photos here. Bitten and Bound notes that Mechelle McNair, wife of the the one-time NFL quarterback, is reported to be distraught according to police spokesman Don Aaron. According to that report, Steve McNair apparently met the 20-year-old at Dave & Buster’s restaurant in Nashville where Kazemi worked as a waitress. According to the restaurant manager, Kazemi was reliable 90 percent of the time. McNair married Mechelle in 1997 and they have four sons; Junior, Steven, Tyler and Trenton.
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