Former NFL star David ‘Deacon’ Turner, 56, was shot to death by police, while with his sons outside a convenience store in Bakersfield, Calif., Sunday.
According to the Associated Press, the former Cincinnati Bengals running back got into a confrontation with police at 1 a.m. after emerging from the store carrying a bag with two cans of beer.
Police had arrived on the scene after receiving a report that juveniles were waiting for adults to buy cigarettes and alcohol for them. They detained Mr. Turner as he exited the store with his sons, age 16 and 19.
According to Kern County Sheriff spokesman Craig Rennie, Turner was compliant at first, but he later hit one of the policeman in the back of the head with the bag of beer. That prompted another officer, Deputy Wesley Kraft, to shoot him twice, according to the Daily Mail.
Turner died shortly thereafter at a local hospital.
Turner’s nephew, Kevin Turner, was speechless when he heard the news. “He was the backbone of our family. He was our knight in shining armor,” Turner said of his uncle’s death.
“When I heard the news, I was in shock,” Turner added. “I didn’t have a word to say.” (Sources say end to NFL lockout could be reached July 21: ESPN)
Drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1978, Turner played in 44 career games, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 549 yards on 142 carries.
The Kern County Sheriff’s office is investigating the shooting and has placed Deputy Kraft on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.