Joey Porter for the Steelers was shot
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All-Pro Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker Shot Outside Bar
Sunday, August 31, 2003
DENVER — Gunfire outside a bar after a college football game early Sunday left one man dead and wounded five other people -- including Pittsburgh Steelers (search) linebacker Joey Porter (search).
Porter was in serious condition but the injury wasn't life-threatening, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. The dead man was identified as Christopher Wilford, 28.
Porter, 26, was an innocent bystander, Jackson said. "There was no confrontation or altercation that we know of at this time," he said.
The victims were shot outside a Denver bar following the Colorado-Colorado State football game. Porter, an All-Pro linebacker and five-year NFL veteran, is a CSU graduate.
Jackson said the shots were fired from outside a fenced-in parking lot where the victims were standing just before 2 a.m.
James Greer, manager of the All Sports Bar & Grill in northeast Denver, said everyone had left the bar at the time of the shooting, and added that there had been no fights or arguments beforehand.
"Joey had been to the game and he came down here to patronize our business. This is very sad. I hope it doesn't interfere with his playing," Greer said.
No arrests had been made by Sunday afternoon.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher (search) said the team would not place Porter on injured reserve, which would sideline him for the season.
"The bullet entered his left buttocks and is lodged in his right thigh," Cowher said. "All the preliminary tests are being done and, at this time, it looks as though the bullet did not hit any vital organs. He is resting comfortably in the hospital and we are in the process of ... trying to fly him back here" on Monday.
Cowher did not speculate how long Porter would be out. Losing Porter for a substantial period would be a major blow to a defense that was the NFL's best in 2001 and ranked seventh overall last season.
"Joey's going to be fine; he'll be back," Cowher said.
Sunday, August 31, 2003
DENVER — Gunfire outside a bar after a college football game early Sunday left one man dead and wounded five other people -- including Pittsburgh Steelers (search) linebacker Joey Porter (search).
Porter was in serious condition but the injury wasn't life-threatening, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. The dead man was identified as Christopher Wilford, 28.
Porter, 26, was an innocent bystander, Jackson said. "There was no confrontation or altercation that we know of at this time," he said.
The victims were shot outside a Denver bar following the Colorado-Colorado State football game. Porter, an All-Pro linebacker and five-year NFL veteran, is a CSU graduate.
Jackson said the shots were fired from outside a fenced-in parking lot where the victims were standing just before 2 a.m.
James Greer, manager of the All Sports Bar & Grill in northeast Denver, said everyone had left the bar at the time of the shooting, and added that there had been no fights or arguments beforehand.
"Joey had been to the game and he came down here to patronize our business. This is very sad. I hope it doesn't interfere with his playing," Greer said.
No arrests had been made by Sunday afternoon.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher (search) said the team would not place Porter on injured reserve, which would sideline him for the season.
"The bullet entered his left buttocks and is lodged in his right thigh," Cowher said. "All the preliminary tests are being done and, at this time, it looks as though the bullet did not hit any vital organs. He is resting comfortably in the hospital and we are in the process of ... trying to fly him back here" on Monday.
Cowher did not speculate how long Porter would be out. Losing Porter for a substantial period would be a major blow to a defense that was the NFL's best in 2001 and ranked seventh overall last season.
"Joey's going to be fine; he'll be back," Cowher said.
