DENVER (Jan. 1, 2007) -- Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Denver.

Team spokesman Jim Saccomano said police called him about 3 a.m. from the scene of the shooting and told him three people had been shot and that Williams had been killed.

A little after 2 a.m., a white Hummer limousine was sprayed with bullets from a vehicle that pulled up along its side, said Sonny Jackson, spokesperson for the Denver Police Department.

Three people in the limousine were hit and were taken to area hospitals, where one man was pronounced dead, Jackson said. The other man and woman who were shot were not identified.

Jackson said police were searching for the suspects and interviewing witnesses.

"We have no motive yet," Jackson said. "We're hoping to talk with witnesses to find out where they were coming from, and that might give us some clues."

Saccomano said he spoke with coach Mike Shanahan and others in the organization.

"Complete shock. We're speechless. It takes words away. A terrible tragedy," Saccomano said.

Hours before the shooting, the Broncos lost to San Francisco 26-23 in overtime, eliminating them from the playoff race.

The 24-year-old Williams finished the season with 88 tackles, 78 of them solo, and four interceptions.

On Sunday against the 49ers, he had three tackles and returned two punts for 50 yards before leaving the game with a shoulder injury late in the second half.

Williams, a second-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2005, made an immediate impact on the Broncos, starting nine times in his rookie season following a stellar career at Oklahoma State, where he totaled 11 interceptions and scored three touchdowns on punt returns.

i was just flipping through channels and saw this.

yeah i saw this on espn headlines

it's pretty clear that it's because they didn't make it to the playoffs...i'm speechless...this is a new low America...fuckers

people are saying javon walker might have also been in the limo, but i havent heard if they think he might have been shot

I just saw him playing last night.


I feel sick.

Wow...holy fuck. And this is because they lost? The article made it seem like he had a great game.

People are fucking sick. The world is a dark place and humanity is cursed from the start.

I fucking hate this country.

I've heard nothing about this being game related. As far as the incident. Unreal. I am a Kansas City fan. My team got in because of the Broncos loss last night. Really takes the wind out of my sails. I feel just awful about the situation.

he was the one with the crazy hair, right?

How is it "pretty clear" when the article states at this point they have no motive?

Perhaps you haven't met Pete before.

RIP Darrant, who was young and only getting better. Terrible tragedy.

I can quote from experience that this is a terrible, dangerous place to be at the wrong time. My cousin used to live near downtown and she moved because - among other things - a serial rapist had been on the loose and had upped his count to nearly a dozen (cops ineffectual). When we went downtown on a normal Friday night (early), she pointed out a bar where she said I'm apt to get beat up if I even "dared" to set foot in it. There were shootings there all the time, random fires, and so on.

We don't know what a motive is; the hit may have not even been on him.

If he had given up a game-winning touchdown or muffed a punt during the game or something, I'd be a little more suspicious. As for now, though, I think this has nothing to do with the Broncos missing the playoffs.

The description sounds like a classic gang hit, but if it's indeed some angry football fan then we've officially descended to the level of European football hooligans.

No, I suddenly feel like the butt of an inside joke.

wow when i hung out in denver it seemed like a pretty mellow and nice place..altho i did go to this one after hours club which i was the only whitey..kinda scary crowd there..

this is terrible news tho..wow..poor broncs..first the playoffs now this

Down in Denver, Down in Denver.
All I did was die.

Things to Do in Denver when You're Dead is a great, underrated movie.

PS RIP, didn't place that in my above post.

no playoffs just got a lot worse.

The joke's not on you.

No playoffs doesn't even mean anything now.

This is the saddest day in Denver Broncos history.

I doubt it.



But, it's definitely sad.