TAMPA, Fla. (WFTS)—Detectives are investigating a deadly shooting early Saturday morning in the Riverside Heights neighborhood.
The man who died is Eric Patterson.
The 26-year-old starred at Plant High School in Tampa before playing at Ball State University and the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams.
Officers say around 5 a.m., Patterson’s roommate was woken up by a commotion at a house in the 500 block of West Plaza Place. The roommate went to the living area and found an unknown person in the house and Patterson on the ground.
According to police, the unknown person ran from the home.
Patterson was laying on his back and appeared to have been shot. Police arrived and started life saving measures, but he died at an area hospital.
Officers say the shooting does not appear to be random.
“I just lost my son. They don’t know how painful it is. I’m just hoping and praying that whoever did it just turn themselves in.” — Eric Patterson Sr.
https://t.co/ucQhqVusje by @SaundraONTV— Spectrum Bay News 9 (@BN9) June 11, 2019
Robert Weiner, Patterson’s former coach at Plant High School, and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy tweeted out some thoughts after learning of Patterson’s death.
Sad, heartbreaking time for our Plant Panthers Football Family. Eric Patterson will always be a loved Panther. We mourn his passing. Our prayers embrace his family. EP you will never be forgotten. Much love to all our guys. Cherish every moment we have w/ each other #AlwaysALink pic.twitter.com/zoygMJgGpy
— Robert Weiner (@plantfball) June 9, 2019
We are mourning the passing of one of our own, Eric Patterson. We are extremely saddened by this, and we ask that you please keep Eric and his family in your prayers.
Once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal. #EP pic.twitter.com/MZkMnKxRiS
— Coach Mike Neu (@BSUCoachNeu) June 10, 2019
Accidental Shootings
Far fewer Americans fall victim to firearm accidents than some two decades ago, even though people own more guns, according to new data.
Accidental firearm discharges killed 486 people in 2017, down more than 50 percent since 1997, according to mortality data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Decreased popularity of hunting, improved trauma care, and gun safety education campaigns have likely helped decreased the fatalities.
NTD staff contributed to this report.
