Antonio Dennard Cause of Death Shocking: Ex-NFL Star Dead at 32 After Horrifying Event
The National Football League mourns after losing another brilliant player this month following Antonio Dennard's tragic death.
Local news outlet The Reading Eagle first shared the news about Dennard's death. The newspaper revealed that the athlete was shot in the Legends Bar and Restaurant parking lot in Muhlenberg Township on Sunday.
After the incident outside Reading, Pennsylvania, the 32-year-old NFL player was rushed to Reading Hospital via a private vehicle.
The Berks County Coroner's Office said he was still able to be admitted to an operating room, but he was pronounced dead moments later.
According to PEOPLE, police ruled Antonio Dennard's death as a homicide. An investigation to determine what caused the incident and who the culprit is currently underway. Meanwhile, an autopsy will be conducted on Tuesday.
Dennard's family is yet to release a statement following the shooting.
The former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback's fans expressed their heartbreak online as they mourned over the sudden loss.
One said, "I'll remember everything you taught me, what a great mentor, friend, & coach. You inspired so many around you "LU BOYS 4 LIFE" Antonio Dennard."
Dennard notably became part of Langston University's college football team before joining NFL. He spent his time with three NFL teams throughout his career, serving as a cornerback for the New York Giants, the Green Bay Packers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Unfortunately, he was not the only player NFL lost this year.
NFL Lost Tyrone Davis, As Well
Earlier this month, Green Bay Packers revealed that its tight end Tyrone Davis died at the age of 50. Packers team historian Cliff Christl confirmed the tragedy through an announcement shared by the Jeffress Funeral Home.
The team did not disclose his close of death, but longtime University of Virginia beat writer Jerry Ratcliffe said he died of an undisclosed illness.
Some fans, however, assumed that he suffered from CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which has been the cause of many early deaths among NFL players. The disease is a result of repeated head injuries people sustain. It can lead to memory loss or even death, depending on the severity of the trauma.
It is a common diagnosis among athletes, as 110 of 111 players who became part of Boston University's research statistics database were diagnosed with it.
Davis family held his funeral and memorial on October 8 at The Crawford House Chapel before burying him at Union Grove C.M.E. Church cemetery.