Former NFL Star Dead After Being Ambushed & Shot In Apparent Robbery Attempt

A longtime former NFL wide receiver who played part of his career with the New England Patriots and superstar quarterback Tom Brady was shot and killed on Saturday night in Tampa, Florida.

Reche Caldwell was apparently getting ready to go out on a date with his girlfriend when he was “ambushed” by a couple of unknown assailants who were apparently attempting to rob him of his valuables. This, according to Caldwell’s mother Deborah, who spoke with TMZ about the former football star’s untimely death. He was just 41 years old.

Apparently, Caldwell — whose real first name was Donald, but was known personally and professional as Reche — was “ambushed” by a group of people who jumped out of the bushes near his house. He had been going back inside after first leaving the place in order to grab a jacket to take with him on his date, according to his mother.

The former wide receiver was apparently shot in the leg and the chest, and while those around him quickly called 9-1-1 for aid, the injuries were severe enough that he died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Police have not publicly released any information about their investigation into the possible perpetrators.

Deborah remembered her son fondly, telling the media outlet (below):

“He was a good person who smiled all of the time. He tried to help everyone he could. He was the type of guy who would take his shirt off his back and give it to you.”

So sad…

Caldwell was originally from Tampa, growing up in the city and starring as a high school athlete in three sports, including football. He was a strong enough athlete that he was actually drafted by Major League Baseball‘s Cincinnati Reds out of high school. He chose to play football instead and went to the University of Florida, where he quickly became a star. After his college career, he was a second round draft pick of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers in 2002, and played six years in the league with several teams, catching 152 passes for nearly 2,000 yards while also returning kicks and punts.

After his playing career, he served prison time after a 2014 arrest on drug charges. More recently, he had been facing charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, with sentencing due to be handed down from a federal court later this month.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this scary, trying time.

So, so sad. RIP…

[Image via YouTube]