NFL Rookie Shot In Face Outside Home In Ohio
NFL Rookie Damond Powell, who recently was signed by the Arizona Cardinals, was reportedly hit in the face by gunfire while outside his home Friday night, according to a report by the Toledo Blade. Powell, who was signed to an undrafted free agent deal by the Cardinals, is recovering as the injuries do not appear to be life threatening.
According to the Toledo, Powell was sitting on his porch with some friends Friday night when he was struck by masked assailants firing from a vehicle. Powell, who caught 19 catches for 317 yards and three touchdowns last season for the University of Iowa, had been visiting with his family since July 4 and planned on leaving for Arizona’s training camp Tuesday. Members of the community assert that the NFL rookie was not a member of any gangs, nor was he involved with any gang activity tying him to the shooting.
“He didn’t allow that drama,” Brenda Darrington, the sister of Michael Johnson who lives across the street from where the shooting took place, asserted to the Toledo Blade.
The Arizona Cardinals released a statement via their website regarding the shooting.
“We are aware that Damond Powell was the victim of a shooting last night in Toledo, where he remains hospitalized. We have been in communication with his family to offer whatever support and resources we can provide. We will continue to monitor and provide updates as appropriate.”
No motive is known as to why this NFL rookie was shot on his porch, and as of the publication of this article, no arrests have been made. The assailants, all three wearing masks, were seen driving a gold vehicle. Police told the Toledo Blade that several shell casings were recovered, and a nearby home and vehicle were also struck.
Powell was signed as a free agent in May to bolster an already good Arizona Cardinals wide receiver corps. Alongside Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown and Jarron Brown, the NFL rookie also has to contend with multiple other additions to the Cardinals in a bid to make the roster. NFL rookies have been making headlines recently, as the Inquisitr reported in May that Connor Halliday left the Redskins on the eve of Redskins minicamp.
The injuries to Damond Powell don’t appear life threatening, though the hospital can neither confirm nor deny his status, per patient confidentiality rules. It’s good to hear, however, that this NFL rookie may yet still get the chance to play and compete in the NFL. The Inquisitr will post any updates to this story as they become available.
[Images via Arizona Cardinals, SI.com]
